The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday, July 25 urged the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and the 11 Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) to halt their proposed tariff increase and “allow Nigerians to breathe”, IGBERETV reports.
Senator Yunus Abiodun Akintunde (APC – Oyo Central) moved a motion titled: “Need to halt proposed increase in Electricity Tariff by 11 successor Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos)” at plenary.
After debating on the motion, the Senate resolved to:
“Call on the Federal Government of Nigeria to intervene and halt the proposed increase in electricity tariff by the Distribution Companies (Discos);
“Urge Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to decentralize proposed engagement with Stakeholders scheduled for Abuja to the Six Geopolitical Zones of the Federation for effective participation by all;
“Also urge NERC to thoroughly look into the rate review applications filed by the Discos, taking into consideration the interests of citizens, affordability, and the need for improved service delivery;
“Further urge NERC to explore alternative measures to address the financial challenges faced by the Discos, such as improving operational efficiency, reducing technical and commercial losses, and enhancing revenue collection mechanisms;
“Equally urge Discos to henceforth discontinue estimated billing and make available to all electricity consumers prepaid meters at affordable prices; and
“Mandate the Committee on Power (when constituted) to engage with the Federal Ministry of Power, NERC, and other stakeholders to find lasting solutions to the challenges facing the Nigerian electricity sector, including the need for comprehensive sector reforms.
“Call on DisCos to allow communities recover cost of purchasing transformers before asking them to pay bills.
“Call on DisCos and NERC to allow Nigerians to breathe.”
PHEDC bills me 23 to 25 thousand Naira monthly. I have written to their office through my lawyer but nothing is done about it. I live alone in my compound, I am not stable because of the kind of job I do, yet they over bill me with reasons best known to them. They also imposed high tension installation on a crowded street where there is an existing transformer. The intimidation and oppression from PHEDC is too much on the masses mostly in Bayelsa State because there is nobody to defend the citizens. The masses are on their own. Help us to get meters in all houses. Nigeria is a very difficult place to live at this dispensation.