The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), yesterday, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately reverse what it described as the unlawful, unjust and unreasonable increase in electricity tariff, which reportedly occurred in December 2022.
This is contained in a letter to the President, asking him to direct the Minister of Power, Goddy Jedy-Agba, and the Chairman/CEO of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), James Momoh, to immediately reverse the increase.
The group also warned that it would be forced to take legal action if the reversal is not done within seven days.
In a statement on Sunday, SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, also called on Buhari to “ensure the investigation of the spending of public funds as ‘investments and bailouts’ by successive governments to electricity distribution companies (DisCos), and generating companies (GenCos) since 2005, and prosecution of cases of corruption and mismanagement.”
Following reported approval by NERC, electricity tariffs were increased across DisCos in December 2022, with several residential estates confirming the increases via letters sent to them by their respective DisCos.
The increase is unjustified, especially given the unreliable, inefficient and poor quality of electricity in the country. Rather than providing electricity discounts to poor Nigerians, successive governments continue to give bailouts to electricity companies.
The letter reads in part: “The increase in electricity tariff would exacerbate the extreme poverty across the country and undermine the ability of millions of Nigerians to satisfy basic human needs.
“The increase in electricity tariff failed to follow due process. It is entirely inconsistent and incompatible with the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 [as amended], the Electric Power Sector Reform Act and the country’s international human rights obligations.
“Millions of Nigerians continue to live in darkness despite the spending by successive governments of trillions of naira as investments and bailouts to electricity companies.
“The increase is unjustified, especially given the unreliable, inefficient and poor quality of electricity in the country. Rather than providing electricity discounts to poor Nigerians, successive governments continue to give bailouts to electricity companies.
“We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within 7 days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall consider appropriate legal actions to compel your government to comply with our request in the public interest.”
