‘It’s anti-people’ — senior civil servants reject hike in electricity tariff

The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), has decried the hike in electricity tariff in the country.

Etim Okon, ASCSN national president, said the new rate was totally unacceptable.

On Wednesday, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) announced an increase in electricity tariff for elite customers.

Musliu Oseni, NERC vice-chairman, said customers under Band A, who receive 20 hours of electricity supply daily, will pay N225 instead of N66 per kilowatt (kW), starting from April 3.

Okon noted that the policy comes at a time when there is a cost of living crisis in the country due to the removal of subsidy on petrol. 

He described the new policy as anti-people and a case of misplaced priority on the part of government.

“This shows clearly that Nigeria is not ready for 24 hours electricity supply,” Okon said.

“I think that the policy is not right especially at this time of socioeconomic challenges where the cost of living is very exorbitant and the salary of the workers remained static.

“Today, we are still battling with the fuel subsidy removal without any corresponding remedy and yet the increase in the electricity tariff without even the supply of electricity.”

He added that the federal government was prioritising revenue generation over the welfare of Nigerians who are currently struggling to survive.

Okon urged the government to reconsider its stance and  revert to old tariff.

He added that government must find ways of stabilising the economy before thinking of how to generate more revenue through taxation.

“If the labour union calls for protest, government will say we are being insensitive. But without consultation, they just woke up and announced increase in price of electricity,” he added.

“No worker now can boast of anything with N30,000 minimum wage.

“The calculation on ground and the high cost of living have already consumed everything before they even make the announcement, so where are we going from here?

“Government must revert to the former tariff and allow the economy to have some level of stability.”