By Reporters
Some electricity consumers in Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu States have expressed concern over the incessant hike in electricity tariff, urging the federal government to always consider the poor citizens in policy making processes in the country.
The stakeholders made the ascertion during a News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) survey on how Nigerians are coping with the hike in electricity tariff amidst epileptic supply.
NAN recalls that the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) had constantly increased tariff beyond the ability of the poor Nigerians.
The Federal Government also, on Feb. 27, announced plans to regularise electricity tariffs for customers in Bands A, B, and C, aiming to improve efficiency and reliability in the power sector.
The announcement was made by the Minister of Power, Mr Adebayo Adelabu, during the presentation of the National Integrated Electricity Policy (NIEP) and Nigeria Integrated Resource Plan in Abuja.
However, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has threatened a nationwide strike against the government’s proposed tariff adjustments.
On March 2, the NLC General-Secretary, Mr Emmanuel Ugboaja, issued a strong warning, urging the government to reconsider.
Reacting to the development, some stakeholders, in separate interviews, said the increase had caused negative impact on people and the economy.
In Ebonyi, Mr John Ogudu, retired staff of the defunct National Electric Power Authority (NEPA), said the hike was not only increasing hardship but causing challenges on ease of doing business.
Ogudu called on governments at all levels and electricity distributors to consider the poors masses while making policies and be fair in service delivery to the consumers.
“It is not fair paying for what you did not consume. The electricity here is not regular. It goes off and returns back after hours.
“Why would the government keep increasing the tariff? We are faced with numerous economic challenges in this country.
“It is showing that the government has no regard on the wellbeing of the citizens; the hike does not show aspect of good governance,” he stated.
Ms Veronica Onah, Legal Practitioner and a consumer said it was necessary to address the cases of irregular power supply, poor connections and arbitrary billings.
“Improve infrastructure of the distribution companies and that of the Transmission Company of Nigeria.
“These infrastructure are moribund to achieve any meaningful improvement in power generation,” Onah said.
Mr Chidi Igboji, Chairman of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), Ebonyi chapter, said its members were set to obey any directive for the proposed strike.
According to Igboji, we cannot be smiling, while we are suffering.
“This is a country, where you pay high when you consume little. It is bad.
“Our salaries are not increasing but only taxes and all kind of billings. Even the telecommunications industry have joined the league of hike.
“The government failed to succeed in giving a stable electricity supply to the people. We consume little and pay higher.
“We are ready for the proposed strike at any given time,” the TUC Chairman stated.
Mrs Chinwe Donaldson, a hairdresser, urged the government to find a lasting solution and provide the citizens with alternative sources of power.
“The hike keeps reducing business activity. I spend N20,000 weekly to recharge my electricity and I do not even make up to N100,000 monthly.
“The light here, hardly last for four hours, making us to spend money in buying fuel for our generator set,” Donaldson added.
Some consumers and stakeholders in Awka, Anambra State, also expressed dissatisfaction with the persistent poor quality of power supply in spite of recent increases in electricity tariffs.
They criticized the proposed hike, citing inadequate power supply and the growing financial burden on citizens.
Mr Chuks Nnanna, an electricity consumer in Awka, described the tariff hike as “exploitative”, claiming it had worsened living standards and increased the cost of goods and services.
“The increase in electricity tariff has not been matched by improved power supply. Those of us in Band A rarely receive 20 hours of power daily, as promised. I spend N10,000 for 22 units of power, which lasts less than four days,” Nnanna lamented.
He said: “This policy has increased our hardship and reduced our quality of life. The government’s minimum wage adjustment did not cover the inflation caused by these policies, and now they plan another hike.”
Mrs Nkiru Nwagbo, National President of the Ultimate Businesswomen and Farmers Association of Nigeria, expressed similar frustrations.
“I spend ₦30,000 monthly recharging my prepaid meter just to power basic appliances like bulbs and a refrigerator. This cost is draining my business income,” Nwagbo said.
Human rights activist and Convener of the Recover Nigeria Project, Mr Osita Obi, described the proposed tariff increase as “irrational and unjustifiable” given the lack of improvement in power supply.
“The power situation remains deplorable. For over a month, my area has experienced such low voltage that my refrigerator does not work, yet I spend ₦40,000 monthly on electricity. This is exploitation,” Obi said.
Obi called for the revocation of licenses of poorly performing electricity companies, such as the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC).
He also pledged to join the NLC protest, saying, “I will mobilise electricity consumers to demand justice.”
Mr Humphrey Nwafor, Chairman of the NLC in Anambra, affirmed the union’s readiness to join the nationwide strike once directed by the NLC’s national leadership.
“Power supply in Anambra is inadequate, and the services do not justify the high tariffs. Anambra faces the same challenges as other parts of Nigeria, and we will join the strike when the directive comes,” Nwafor said.
In Enugu, the situation is not different as electricity users lament how the hike in tariff eat deep into their pockets in spite of their efforts to manage and save energy usage.
The Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Fabian Nwigbo, said civil servants were worse hit by the increase in the electricity and network providers given the amount they received as minimum wage.
He said the percentage increase in tariff by the electricity providers were far above the percentage increase in minimum wage.
“Yet they only paid a kind of wage award not minimum wage because there is no consequential adjustment to it in the state.
“As a result, civil servants have remained worse off in all circumstances and that is why NLC said no, that they cannot sit in the comfort of their offices and increase tariff without consulting stakeholders.
“We are not finding it funny because if you buy some unit of electricity for N10,000 to N20,00, it will only serve you for days. These are the people you pay N70,000 as minimum wage.
“From this amount, you pay school fees, rent, hospital and other bills,” Nwigbo said.
A civil servant , Mrs Chinemerem Ugwu told NAN that she switched from electricity to solar because of the high cost she incurred in recharging her prepaid metre.
According to her, she will buy electricity unit of N4,000 to N5,000 but it will not serve her for two days.
She added that she went to the extent of spending N20, 000 weekly, regretting that when calculated how much she spent on electricity, it was more than her monthly rent.
“If you complain, they will tell you that you have a lot of items consuming energy in your house. They will advise you to reduce the load in your house and after switching certain appliances off, the light still finishes.
“I have to go for alternative power supply,” she said.
She, however, expressed the need for government to assume full management of power supply and generation in the country to enable Nigerians buy light at lower rates.
“Privatisation has eaten deep from the pockets of Nigerians as power distribution companies target was to maximize profit. They operate in an unfavourable environment, thereby channeling the whole burden to consumers,” Ugwu said.
Mr Jude Okafor, a Lawyer noted that the hike had been a major setback in all ramifications.
He said in manufacturing sector that electricity play a major role, stressing that the higher the electricity tariff, the higher the cost of products they manufactured which at the end, users bore the burden.
“In our homes, the cost of electricity is reflecting badly on us as income remain same. It has a negative impact on our spending pattern because sometimes it denies us meeting other needs of life.
“The epileptic power supply is not helpful. Some areas in Enugu consume electricity less than 12 hours yet the cost is very high.
“I think Nigeria Regulation Commission should review the cost and subsidize it especially those placed on Band A,” he said.
He noted that the distribution company would place everyone living in a particular area under Band A without regard if there were less income earners living there.
“Take for instance, if you are living at Thinkers Corner, they don’t care if you are a low income earner, middle class or rich, they placed every one on Band A,” he explained.
He urged government to provide alternative power supply to enable Nigeria enjoy electricity. (NAN)
