Follow Us on Google
From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi; Ighomuaye Lucky, Benin; Tony John, Port Harcourt; Okey Sampson, Umuahia and Abel Leonard, Nasarawa
The federal government recently announced the withdrawal of subsidy on electricity, which led to increase in electricity tariff by almost 300 per cent depending on the bands or categories of consumers.
People from various walks of life reacted to the policy.
It’s anti people -Austin Onuoha, public analyst; Benue
No country surrenders its energy security to private interest; no country all over the world does not subsidise her energy because it is the heart of any economy – manufacturing, transportation, domestic use, even for hospitality. You tend to be more productive with light and it must be subsidised. When the subsidy is removed those who produce will increase the price of goods and services and that will increase inflation rate.
Everything is going high, but salary remains stagnant and minimum wage remains N30, 000, and the minimum wage is not being paid regularly. Pension and gratuity not paid. We subsidise everything for our leaders, but they are removing subsidy from us. The president, governors and senators, don’t pay electricity bills. Government bears the cost; their health, food and transportation are borne by the people, but they are removing the little that should come for us to breathe well. It’s unfair, it’s anti people.
It will impact negatively on households -David Mzer, piggery farmer; Makurdi
The hike in electricity tariff will impact negatively on the budget of households. As we all know, households are battling to cope with the harsh economic realities confronting us. Firms/business organisations that are under Band ‘A’ where the tariff increase is expected to affect will eventually transfer their cost to the final consumer. At the end of the day, it is the households, irrespective of the band they fall under that will bear the burden and it will lead to a drop in the demand for goods and services, thereby jeopardising the competitiveness and profitability of firms in Nigeria.
Give people electricity before increase in tariff -Moses Saater, public servant; Makurdi
I still don’t understand why the hike in tariff in the first place. We have not been having steady power supply, so why should they increase tariff? We are all Nigerians, yet you give people on 33KVA more electricity, while those on 11KVA watch. There is no electricity, but even when they supply it, it’s low current, which doesn’t even last for one hour. I think they should first give people light before talking about the hike. This is not fair.
No justifiable reason to increase electricity tariff – Dr. Bright Oniovokukor, medical doctor; Edo
In the first place, there is no regular electricity supply. So, why increase what is not available? One major economic challenge in Nigeria is grossly inadequate supply of electricity compared to some other countries. Why can’t the Tinubu- led administration take that as responsibility?
Nigerians have been taken for granted on this issue for too long and the government needs to be sensitive to the plight of the people. Any investment in the power sector should be transparent enough to the benefit of the citizens. The under development and economic challenges in Nigeria can be addressed quickly once there is sustainable, adequate and regular power supply. They also need to come out plain with what is going on in the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity. Focusing on the inadequacies of the distribution companies alone will not help. Lastly, there is no justifiable reason to increase electricity tariff irrespective of the banding. All the natural resources to generate power are available in Nigeria, let it be properly harnessed.
It’s ill conceived, insensitive – Osazee Edigin, rights activist; Edo
The recent hike in electricity tariff for Band A customers who enjoy up to 20 hours of electricity supply by the federal government and the subsequent plan for increase across board for all categories of customers was ill-conceived and insensitive to the current economic plight of citizens and businesses. At a time the government was expected to take deliberate steps in cushioning the effects of economic downturn, it’s adding to it.
Most disappointing in all of these is the fact that Nigerians are made to pay for estimated billing because they cannot access meters. More so, customers have become helpless in the face of inaction by the regulatory bodies, as they are made to procure and replace damaged equipment for the distribution companies. More struggling businesses are either expected to wind up or increase the price of their goods and services which will ultimately impact on citizens even when the government has not increased salaries and no subsidies to cushion the negative effect.
FG should first focus on improving power generation – Ogbidi Emmanuel, rights activist, Edo
Nigerians deserve better treatment from their leaders. All over the world, energy is subsidised as a major essential commodity. What is the essence of government if its policies and programmes are not geared towards the welfare of its citizenry? The hike in electricity tariff by FG through the minister of Power is illegal, as he lacks the statutory powers for such. This is supposed to be the functions of the NERC, after series of engagement with stakeholders in the sector, following the efficiency of the various DISCOs. As it stands today, which DISCO in Nigeria is currently discharging its responsibilities effectively? The argument that the increment will only affect about 1.5m Nigeria is rather diversionary and pedestrian. I will rather want the FG to focus first on improving and increasing power generation such that what we have is enough to serve the over 200 million Nigerians effectively before talking about hike in electricity tariff.
It’s attack on Nigerians, should be cancelled – Livingstone Wechie, public commentator; Rivers
The recent electricity tariff hike is an attack on Nigerians and should be cancelled. There is no justification for hiking the price for services barely rendered. Nigerians are yet to recover from the teeth-gnashing hardship of naira fall, petroleum subsidy removal and now electricity tariff hike.
It’s very insensitive -Prince Wiro, journalist; Rivers
The hike in electricity tariff at this point in time is very insensitive considering the harsh economic situation that Nigerians are facing. Secondly, the supply of power in my own assessment has not improved in many states across the country. Before tariff should be increased, there should be improved and steady power supply.
There is no justification for increase – Sunny Zorvah, journalist; Rivers
What is the justification for increasing electricity tariff when power supply is extremely poor, and the citizens don’t have value for their money? Most of the so-called prepaid meters malfunction . The estimated billing system is fraudulent. Electricity power sector needs to be sanitised to relieve the bad eggs of their positions.
Average household can’t survive it – Oliver Rich, trader; Abia
It is good to increase electricity tariff in order for the Discos to serve the people better, but the 240 percent increase is too high and I wonder if an average house hold in the country could pay that at the end of every month and still survive. I will advise the federal government to first ensure that Discos supply constant power to the customers and at the same time provide them electric meters before any increase in tariff could be justified.
Increasing electricity tariff without meters is rip off – Jane Eke, public servant, Abia
Nigerians cannot be said to be presently getting the value for the amount the Discos charge them for electricity. If the federal government wants to justify the increase in electricity tariff, they should first of all mandate the Discos to provide constant power supply to their customers. Increasing electricity tariff without first providing people with meters will amount to the Discos ripping off their customers with their so called estimated bills.
Government not sensitive to plight of people – Nkem Igu, public servant; Abia
The 240 percent or so increase in electricity tariff is outrageous, and many homes in the country that fall under their Band A category would not be able to pay such high tariff. It is wrong for the government to increase electricity tariff at time of economic hardship. It means they are not sensitive to the plight of the people.
FG should take a second look at the hike – Simeon Odis, businessman; Nasarawa
The federal government should take a second look at the hike in electricity tariff. The increase will make me to be paying over N150, 000 monthly. The government should subsidise electricity; it is the only thing that directly benefits the ordinary citizen.
It’s not fair – Margaret Ochapa, hair dresser; Nasarawa
I have not had power supply for over five days, but bills come to me every month. My business uses electricity a lot; we don’t even see the light constantly and now they have increased the bill by over 200 percent, which will affect my business. We all know there is hardship now. So, it is not fair to just increase electricity tariff all of a sudden. Most customers may not understand when you increase your price. We are in trouble in this country. We can’t depend solely on fuel because it is also expensive. Things are getting worse; the government should do something as a matter of urgency.
It’s bad for my business – Umar Adamu, artisan; Nasarawa
The hike in electricity tariff is very bad and affecting my business. It is high time the government took over electricity supply to citizens, as the distribution companies are just using us to make money, and we are not seeing the result. We don’t have electricity, but every month they bring bill to us. With the new hike I will be paying over N200, 000 monthly.
