The presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar, has joined others in responding to the rise in electricity tariffs in Nigeria, News About Nigeria reports.
In a statement on Friday, the former Vice President gave his views and advised the Federal Government, led by President Bola Tinubu, on how to lessen the impact of the increase.
This reaction comes after the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) approved higher tariffs for customers in the Band A category.
Under the new tariff structure, these customers, who represent 15 percent of the country’s electricity consumers, will now pay N225 per kilowatt-hour, up from the previous N66.
Reacting, Atiku stated, “Once again, the government is making changes without enough warning and without a plan to ease the burden afterwards.”
“The timing of the electricity tariff hike is tough for Nigerians, who are already struggling because of the removal of fuel subsidy and the devaluation of the currency,” he added.
He expressed concerns that the increase would worsen inflation and negatively affect the manufacturing sector, which is already facing challenges due to high-interest rates and increased costs.
Atiku called for a reassessment of the privatisation of electricity distribution companies (DISCOs) before implementing further reforms.
He urged Tinubu to ensure that reforms are carried out step by step, take steps to ease the burden on citizens, and hold NERC accountable for better service delivery.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian government has revealed plans to raise electricity prices even more.
During a briefing in Abuja on Friday, the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, explained that the recent tariff hike is part of a gradual process to remove electricity subsidies and attract investment in the power sector.
The minister added that the government has been heavily subsidising electricity costs, covering up to 67 percent of the expenses.
