Nigerians have rejected the new electricity tariff set for Band A customers, which has been adjusted from N225/kWh to N206.8/kWh by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
According to reports, the Nigeria Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress, Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture, along with electricity consumers and civil society organisations, have jointly demanded a complete reversal of the tariff increase.
This reduction in tariff comes in response to pressure from Nigerians, prompting the NERC to reconsider the electricity tariff initially set at N225/kWh, constituting a staggering 240% rise from the previous rate.
The Nigerian government has specified that Band A customers will now benefit from 20 hours of daily power supply as the new tariff became effective on April 3, 2024.
However, the House of Representatives, organised labour, and the Nigerian Bar Association have all vehemently opposed the directive, rejecting both the first and second reviews of the tariff hike.
Summoned by the House of Representatives, the NERC has been instructed to halt the implementation of the new electricity tariff nationwide.
In response, organised labour has issued a two-week ultimatum, demanding a complete reversal of the tariff hike.
In defence of the increase, the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, reiterated during an investigative hearing by the Senate Committee on Power last week, that the tariff hike was necessary. He warned of impending total blackouts within the next three months if the increase was not implemented.