The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has expressed disappointed over the plans by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission to increase electricity tariff from June 1, 2014.
The Congress said it was shocked that the Commission could contemplate further tariff increase when power supply has not improved and warned that it would not hesitate to mobilise workers against further hike in tariff.
The Congress, in a statement issued by its President and Secretary, Bobboi Kaigama and Musa Lawal said private sector investors have not done anything to improve electricity supply but are bent on imposing higher tariff on helpless Nigerians who are already paying exorbitant bills for power they do not consume.
It advised NERC to jettison any increment in electricity tariff until there is appreciable stability in power supply.
The statement read: “To us the move is queer and uncalled for and another deliberate attempt by some cabal to further exploit the already impoverished masses of the country, especially as the power supply and distribution situation has remained comatose even after the privatisation of the sector, contrary to the federal government’s promise to tackle the inherent challenges.
“We find it indefensible that the government has apparently concluded plans to increase the tariffs instead of prevailing on private sector electricity providers to increase power supply and distribution in the country. Need we remind ourselves of the demise of many industries within the last few years? Need we list out the multitude of companies that have either gone under or fled the country because of high cost of generating power for their plants? Or shall we tender statistics of the millions of Nigerians who are jobless and many of whom have taken to vices that create insecurity in our land?
“We are particularly galled by the fact that although the power sector has gulped billions of naira, the country still appears hopelessly trapped in a vicious circle of unproductivity and lack of adequate power supply, essentially because of the insincerity and corrupt practices of leaders.
“NERC recently announced that electricity cost will increase by N1 per kilowatt for customers in R2 category from next month, and that the electricity Fixed Charge (FC) which was to rise to N1,500 from 1st June in the Multi-Year Tariff Order (MYTO) for 2014 will remain at N750 for some customers. We were further told that some positive variables triggered the significant changes in the proposed tariff regime. For instance, whilst MYTO in 2012 had projected a 13 percent inflation rate, it was at 7.8 percent by March 30, a difference of 5.2 percent. Also, exchange rate of $1 to N178 from CBN data was 11.6 percent less than the projected, at N157.30 per $1 as at 30th March.
“The truth of the matter is that most Nigerians are indifferent to all these terms. All they desire is stable and affordable power supply. Incidentally, since 1st November, 2013 when the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) was ceded to 18 successor firms, electricity generation in the country has revolved around 3,000mw. Indeed power generation dropped from 4,105mw in April, to 3,674mw as at 24th May, 2014, according to the Daily Operational Report of the Transmission Company of Nigeria. It is, therefore, clear that the private sector investors have not performed any miracle to improve electricity supply; instead they are bent on imposing higher tariff on helpless Nigerians who are already paying exorbitant bills for power they do not consume. In the circumstance, we advise the commission not to contemplate any increment in electricity tariff until there is appreciable stability in the sector across the country.
“By encouraging the private investors to increase tariff for electricity that is not being supplied, the Government is lending credence to the belief in some quarters that these so-called Private Companies were floated by the political elite to further impoverish the Nigerian people.
“We demand that NERC jettisons the idea or risk incurring the wrath of workers and other Nigerians. The proposed tariff hike is anti-people and anti-labour. We therefore call on the management of the power firms and their regulator to have a rethink about it. The income of the average Nigerian cannot accommodate the extra cost of living that any increase in price of power would provoke. Neither can the social fabric withstand the negative fallouts of such ill-advised action”.
Thisday
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