What is your take on electricity tariff hike from N66 to N225 kilowatt per hour?

Recently, the Federal Government announced a 240 percent increment in electricity tariff from N66 kilowatt per hour to N225 kilowatt per hour for Band A electricity customers in the country. This announcement has caused tension, with labour unions threatening to go on strike and other Nigerians voicing their anger. KINGSLEY ALUMONA sampled the opinions of some Nigerians on this issue. Their views:

Moses Adewole

It is like putting the cart before the horse. The Federal Government should, as a matter of urgency, pursue an aggressive metering system for all Nigerian consumers. The increase in tariffs when many consumers in Band A are still on estimated billings is fraudulent and should be discouraged.

 

John Ogunfowora

This is not a good move by the Federal Government. Despite the hike in the prices of goods and services in the country, the government still wants to increase electricity tariffs. It is proof that the current government is not people-friendly and has nothing better to offer than pain to Nigerians. The electricity tariff increase is not acceptable.

 

Samuel Ogunsola

Implementing this policy is ill-advised. The prevailing issue of hyperinflation of goods and services remains unresolved. The minimum wage has not been increased, apart from vague assurances that it is being reviewed. This situation is leading to a society that caters primarily to the wealthy, disregarding the poor. It is unreasonable to expect individuals earning below or just above the minimum wage to afford basic necessities. Many high-ranking government officials are out of touch with the hardship faced by ordinary citizens.

 

Abdulhakeem Abdulwahab

The Federal Government does not have the courage to revisit the privatisation of NEPA, which has brought more pain than gain. One reason the DISCOs have failed is because the investors are technically incompetent and do not have the financial muscle required to develop the sector. This is why we cannot boast of 25 million pre-paid meters and many dead step-down transformers. The poor performance of the DISCOs is a key reason the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has asked banks to recapitalise. Their loans are non-performing.

 

Titilayo Olukoya

The increment is unacceptable. The minister of power needs to be replaced. They should do a total overhaul in the power ministry and provide pre-paid meters for every household. But because there is insincerity in the ways to operate, they would refuse to make pre-paid meters available, after increasing one-face meter to N89,000. The minister of power needs to be replaced. He is not capable of holding that position.

 

Adedeji Adegboyega

It is a fraud that should be condemned by all — an inhuman act from a government that is not sympathetic to the condition of the people, a government that lacks empathy and is not ready to remove the rope of hardship from the people’s neck, a government that is working for itself and the interest of the elite. It is a shame.

 

Ademola Ajani

This government is the worst. They want to collect the little that the citizens have. The fuel subsidy that they removed, what did they use it to do? If they had their way, they would say they want to remove subsidies on natural air. I blame the people who voted for this government. This is not fair at all.

 

Yusuf Mohammed

It is clear that the priority of this government is how to make more money without minding the consequences. No matter how one looks at it, the common man bears the brunt. The last consumer always pays the bills. I wonder if this is what democracy is all about.

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