The Nigerian Senate has opposed the Ministry of Power’s proposal to increase electricity tariffs and remove the subsidy on electricity, News About Nigeria reports.
The Senate’s rejection of these plans was evident during its consideration and approval of a motion presented by Senator Aminu Abbas (PDP, Adamawa Central) during the plenary.
Senator Abbas said that Nigerians are currently facing hardship, and it would be unfair to raise electricity tariffs given the challenges citizens are already experiencing.
Many lawmakers supported the rejection of subsidy removal on electricity and the potential tariff hike.
Senator Aminu Tambuwal, representing Sokoto South, said it was insensitive to increase electricity tariffs amid the current economic difficulties.
He expressed concern about the impact such a move would have on the population, describing it as adding “petrol to fire.”
Last week, the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, disclosed the challenges faced by Nigeria’s power sector, stating that the country might not sustain the current electricity subsidy.
He explained that the power sector owed over N3 trillion to electricity-generating companies and gas suppliers.
Adelabu highlighted a legacy debt of $1.3 billion to gas companies before 2014, equivalent to nearly N2 trillion at the current exchange rate.
He said, “Today, we owe a total of N1.3tn to the power generating companies, out of which 60 percent is owed to gas suppliers. Today we have a legacy debt, before 2014, to the gas companies of $1.3 billion; at today’s rate, that is close to N2 trillion,” he said.
The Senate spokesperson, Yemi Adraamodu, said that the legislative body would not permit any hike in electricity prices that might further burden the populace.
