Reps urge FG to halt 100 percent electricity tariff increase

The federal house of representatives has urged the federal government to stop the planned 100 percent increase in electricity tariff by distribution companies (DISCOs).

The house also mandated it’s committee on power to investigate the rationale behind the last hike of electricity tariff by distribution companies.

These resolutions by the house emanated from a motion on matters of urgent public importance entitled ‘Illegal 100 percent tariff hike by electricity firms in Nigeria”, sponsored by Aliyu Madaki.

“The discos have written to the regulatory authority, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), requesting for a hike in electricity tariff from N24 to N50 per kilowatts for residential consumers.” he said.

“In February 2016, NERC had increased the electricity tariff by 45 percent with no correspondent result as the electricity supply has dropped affecting both households and commercial activities.”

According to him, the planned increase in electricity tariff by NERC on the request of distribution companies is illegal and abuse of court processes.

Contributing to the debate, Femi Gbajabiamila, majority leader of the house, described the electricity distribution companies as a huge scam.

“The issue of Discos is the biggest scam; people are paying huge money and Discos are smiling to the banks without commensurate services, “he said. “In other countries they do not privatise a large life wire of their economies”.

He said the house must remain resolute in finding out why the discos have the effrontery to disobey resolutions of the legislature and court orders.

The house adopted the motion after it was put to a voice vote by the speaker Yakubu Dogara.