NLC Warns Against Implementation Of New Power Tariff Increase From July 1
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called on the federal government to shelve its plans to increase electricity tariff by 40 per cent by July 1.
The NLC in a statement signed by its president, Joseph Ajaero, on Thursday, said that the plan to increase the electricity tariff by 40 per cent is both insensitive and callous.
The congress said it reflects an organized indifference to the well-being of consumers, particularly the poor ones, in the wake of the over 100 per cent increase in the pump price of petrol.
It advise apostles of the market who have called NLC all sorts of names to check their conscience, warning that the rate at which they are going is highly combative and combustible.
The congress said with the contemplation of payment of school fees in tertiary institutions in addition to other costs/tariffs on the way, life in Nigeria could truly be hobbesian.
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According to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), the increase was in response to the rise of the pump price of premium motor spirit (PMS), the rise in inflation rate which is currently at 22.41 per cent, and a shift in the exchange rate from N441 to N750.
However, the NLC chairman asked the government to stop the proposed implementation of the new tariff plan.
“The plan to increase electricity tariff by 40 per cent by July 1st is insensitive and callous and reflects an organised indifference to the well-being of consumers, especially the poor ones.
“The issue of capacity to pay and quality of service delivery is not only germane, but is superior to any rationalisation by market logic. The service providers, in spite of sundry support, have not been able to meet the threshold of 5,000 megawatts,” the NLC president said in the statement.
