In a move against what he perceives as an unjust increase in the electricity tariff, senior lawyer Joe Agi (SAN) has taken legal action against the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and Abuja Electricity Distribution (AEDC) Plc, News About Nigeria reports.
Agi filed a lawsuit at the Federal High Court, Abuja, seeking the enforcement of his fundamental rights amidst a 230% surge in his electricity tariff, although a date has not been set for the hearing.
The lawsuit targets not only NERC and AEDC but also includes the Minister of Power and the Attorney-General of the Federation as respondents.
News About Nigeria reported that NERC raised electricity tariffs for customers receiving 20 hours of power supply daily, classified under the Band A category, on April 3.
The increase saw tariffs soar from N66/kWh to N225/kWh.
In his affidavit attached to the suit, Agi recounted purchasing utility worth N50,000 on March 23 and April 3, only to find that the value of his purchase had significantly reduced on April 6.
He alleges that NERC and AEDC unilaterally increased tariffs by 230%, leaving him and other consumers grappling with discriminatory pricing practices.
Furthermore, Agi takes issue with the alleged discrimination perpetuated by NERC’s chairman, Musiliu Oseni, who claimed on April 1 that only 15% of electricity consumers in Nigeria, accounting for 40% of the nation’s electricity consumption, would be affected by the tariff hike.
Agi said that such directives unfairly target a minority of consumers, violating the rights of the majority.
“A declaration that the NERC Supplementary Order to the MYTO 2024 is discriminatory, unconstitutional, and a gross violation of the applicant’s right to freedom from discrimination as guaranteed under Section 116 (2) (e) of the Electricity Act, 2023, and Section 42 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).”
