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From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
The deputy speaker of House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has said the House will intervene in the recent hike in electricity tariff by the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) .
Kalu, according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Levinus Nwabughiogu, stated this while speaking virtually on the special edition of “Ben Kalu’s Mandate”, a call-in radio programme of FLO FM, Umuahia, Abia State on Monday.
The deputy speaker, who was responding to questions by listeners, said the parliament will hearken to the calls of Nigerians to intervene in the electricity tariff hike and resolve the issue in a win-win manner.
According to him, “It’s a general problem. While I was on my holidays, one of the things I was bothered with was a letter sent to me by the majority leader of the House on the need for us to intervene in a matter involving the University of Ibadan Teaching Hospital power supply.
” They were disconnected because of this hike and they don’t have the money to pay. We said it’s an essential service. Something should be done about it while we look at other details.
“I can assure you that when we resume, it’s one of the things we are going to look into. We will look at the both sides of the coin to know a win-win approach to it because we cannot suffocate also the investors, and also we cannot allow Nigerians to suffer unduly. So, it is one of the things we will look at by the time we resume and we will find a way to solving it.”
Kalu, while responding to a question on the review of the 1999 Constitution, said it is up to the people to lead the debate and provide a practicable template for the National Assembly to consider the merits and demerits.
“Yes, some school of thought has expressed view that they want a new constitution, drop the old one and pick up something new. Some elders known as The Patriots are also asking for a brand new constitution. But as you know, we are the people’s parliament. You are our bosses. “
