Electricity Tariff increase – NERC strikes amidst COVID 19 Pandemic
Amidst growing concerns of the COVID 19 Pandemic, government across nations have adopted various drastic measures to contain the spread of Corona virus. Only recently, President Muhammadu Buhari in his national broadcast on Sunday, 29th March 2020 declared a total lock down on activities in Lagos, Ogun and Abuja for 14 days for obvious reasons. Consequently, this has brought about untold hardship on the live of Nigerians where majority live on less than $1 per day with no palliative in sight. In Lagos for instance, there is no gainsaying the fact that the media has been awashed with reports of relief materials being distributed to poor residents in the state. However, this is non-existent as there are no known measures to determine the poor, residents and even strategic ways to deliver these to their doorsteps.
As if this suffering is not enough to contend with, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC have finalized plans to kick off an increase in electricity tariff from Wednesday, April 1st 2020. This is absolutely barbaric for a nation experiencing almost zero economic activities, where workers are on pay cut and businesses shut down. Where other nations and government agencies are seeking ways to manage the welfare of her entire populace, NERC has chosen to toll the path of evil in compounding the hardship experienced by Nigerian citizens in these trying times.
This is a clarion call to the President Muhammadu Buhari, the Hon. Minister for power, Alh. Saleh Mamman to clamp down on this inhuman plans by NERC and sanction its constituted authorities.
Nigerians should stand against this as there is no justification whatsoever to increase electricity tariff in a nation where electricity supply has not improved, citizens still being ripped off through estimated billing and pay for darkness.
NERC – Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission Federal Ministry of Power Nigeria Presidency News
