Would you like to receive notifications on latest updates of the following headlines?

Protest Against Electricity Tariff Hike Grows Amid Worsening Social Conditions

POSTED ON May 12, 2024 •   BUSINESS & ECONOMY      BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara
Electricity Tariff l Credit: engagingelk.co.uk l Source: engagingelk.co.uk

As socio-economic con­ditions in the country worsen, Nigerians have amplified their rejec­tion of electricity tariff hike.

Ambassador Kalu Ofon Em­manuel, a human rights promot­er, speaking to a journalist on Sunday, stated: “Honestly speaking, Nigerians have been lamenting the astro­nomical hike in electricity tariff.”

Dr Emmanuel, the Lagos State Chapter President, lnterna­tional Human Rights Protection Service, Naples, Florida, USA, said: “This development has grossly doubled the sufferings of Nigerians. The fact is that most areas are suffering from epilep­tic power supply, as if there are people who are more Nigerians than other Nigerians.

“What l think the Federal Government should do to ame­liorate the suffering, if they would listen and implement, are: Implement all the fantastic good transforming ideas proffered by experts and professionals in the power sector and from those who have vast knowledge on power.

“Bring back the tariff to its former level to cushion the effect of suffering in the country. The unfortunate thing is that some sections would have power sup­ply, while others have to pray and trust God for power supply.

“The Federal Government should make tariffs affordable and maintain a stable and consis­tent power supply for businesses to have a vertical boom.”

Bishop Dr Herbert Ekechuk­wu, an economist and church overseer, stated: “The hike in electricity tariff for Band A cus­tomers from N68/kw to N208/kw is too high.

“The electricity authorities said the Band A customers are those that get more than 20 hours of light daily and that they make up about 15% of electricity cus­tomers

“My take on this is that there has been too much taxes on the people under this Tinubu govern­ment. This hike is one too many.

“I appeal to President Tinubu to intervene on this and let the poor man breathe. He should remember that when people are pushed to the wall, they will re­spond negatively. This may not augur well to anyone.

“On this excessive taxation, I plead to the government to treat it with caution. Too excessive direct and indirect taxes will eventually drive away potential local and foreign investors as it will amount to high cost of doing business.

“Government should provide enabling business environment, especially electricity, before in­creasing the tariff

“Electricity and fuel are two essentials for small, medium and large scale enterprises. Excessive increase will surely mitigate the growth and development of in­dustries and commerce.”

Osatohamhen Ebhohon, Publicity Secretary, African Action Congres (AAC), Lagos State Chapter, stated: “First, the oppressed does not beg his or her captives. They want you in bondage because it makes them powerful.

“Throughout history, there is not a single recorded event where the oppressed or those in captivity were set free out of the benevolence of their captors.

“Every oppressed people throughout history had to dec­imate their oppressor one way or the other. Our ancestors sold to slavery had to fight for their freedom.”

He added: “Until we organise ourselves as a class for itself, elec­tric tariff hike will be the least of the issues bringing about hardship.

“Soon, the working class who think because they can afford a car and house by virtue of a blue-collar job, will become beg­gars also.

“However, these blue-collar working Nigerians know this, that is why they are so desperate to either become good pets of the bourgeois class so they can get the leftovers, or migrate out of Nigeria.”

Dr. Rexkennedy Saltlove, a human rights activist, stated: “In trying to proffer solutions and recommendations, is the govern­ment really sincere in ensuring the welfare of the citizens in the country?

“Until that question is honest­ly answered, by every empirical evidence, we may not be making headway as a nation.”

 

Dr Saltlove, Executive Direc­tor, CREMA Initiative, stated: “The duplicity of this govern­ment in showing it gross insin­cerity is evidenced in the hike of electricity tariff and the planned Cyber Security charges in bank transactions, on the eve of its so-called salary increase and after the announcement of the wage increase respectively.

“The government was giving the citizens something (meagre wage increase) with the right hand and taking it away with the left.

“It shows duplicity of inten­tions, pretending to care for the citizens’ welfare, when it is not, and is not interested in adding any meaningful value to them by increased wages.

“Nigeria is a highly endowed nation. The natural resources in this country is enough to make every Nigerian comfortable with basic necessities of life (shelter, food, light, medicals – hospitals, good roads), etc., if explored, can generate enough funds to power the power sector, paying for gas and infrastruc­ture maintenance.

“There is indeed no need to bother the citizens, burdened or belaboured with tariff hikes.”

He added: “The total removal of subsidy from fuel and light, two critical sources that help to power household appliances and manufacturing sectors, etc, is ‘killing’ to the average Nigerian, and the MSMEs as it will impact the industry negatively and need to be reviewed honestly and the tariff hikes are a gradual thing.

“In summary, the proper pric­ing of things – fuel and power – are necessary for a sustainable and vibrant ecosystem.”

Comrade Aluh Moses Odeh, National Leader, All Middle Belt Youth Forum (AMBYF), stated: “Successive governments in Nigeria have never been fair to Nigerians in the area of power generation and distribution.

“Our government lied to us to justify the privatisation of the power sector, only for the truth to be revealed later as Nigerians were forced to pay for power that was not supplied and or epileptic power supply.

“Imagine at this age that other countries of the world have gone far in alternative energy, Nige­ria is still throttling with how to generate power because some criminals parading as leaders, out of greed, decided to frustrate genuine effort of others.

“The solution is simple. The Nigerian government should come clean that it actually needs help and ready to end this prob­lem of epileptic power supply.”

Julius Adegunna, a media executive, stated: “What I think Nigerians need at this time, as far as electricity is concerned, is perfect service.

“Nigerians deserve uninter­rupted electricity supply. To have uninterrupted electricity supply may not be cheap, but I am of the opinion that Nigerians will be ready to pay for the best of service.

“Having said that, the Feder­al Government should open up the Nigerian electricity market more.”

READ ALSO
NNPCL Revamps Financial Discipline, Collaborate with Independent Producers
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 3, 2025 0

The CEO of Seplat Energy Plc, Roger Brown, stated that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limit...

READ ALSO
Nigeria Unveils 37 New Crude Oil Evacuation Routes to Combat Theft and Boost Production
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 3, 2025 0

The Federal Government has sanctioned 37 new crude oil evacuation routes nationwide as part of refor...

READ ALSO
Dangote Slash Petrol Price to N840 per Litre Amid Market Adjustments
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 30, 2025 0

The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has lowered the ex-depot price of Premium Motor Spirit, commonly refe...

READ ALSO
Tinubu Empowers ICRC to Streamline PPP Processes
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 30, 2025 0

President Bola Tinubu has authorized the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) to e...

READ ALSO
Nigeria's Public Debt Reaches N149.39 Trillion, Marking 22.8% Annual Increase
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 28, 2025 0

As of March 31, 2025, Nigeria's total public debt reached N149.39 trillion, showing an annual increa...

READ ALSO
Dangote Decries Inconsistent Policies, Poor Power Supply as Barriers to Africa’s Industrial Growth
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 27, 2025 0

Africa’s foremost industrialist and President of Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), Alhaji Alik...

READ ALSO
Transition of Tax Collection to NRS Announced, New VAT Sharing Begins January 1, 2026
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 27, 2025 0

President Bola Tinubu signed four tax reform bills into law on Thursday, indicating Nigeria's commit...

READ ALSO
Afreximbank Advocates for Innovative Financing Structures in South–South Trade
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 26, 2025 0

The President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the African Export-Import Bank, Prof. Benedi...

OUR CHANNELS:

We Rendered Oil Smuggling Unattractive, A New Era for Nigeria's Economy - Tinubu
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 4, 2025 0

President Bola Tinubu has proclaimed that his administration has salvaged Nigeria’s economy fr...


Microsoft Cuts 4% of Workforce Amid AI Investment Strategy
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 3, 2025 0

Microsoft is set to lay off nearly 4% of its workforce, impacting around 9,000 employees across diff...


Amaechi Exits APC, Calls for Urgent Restructuring of Nigeria
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 3, 2025 0

A former Minister of Transportation,Rotimi Amaechi,has left the All Progressives Congress (APC).&nbs...


K-pop's Global Influence Inspires Afrobeat Collaboration
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 3, 2025 0

The Korean Cultural Centre in Nigeria is keen on promoting collaboration between Nigeria’s Afr...


Lagos Assembly Summons AG over Controversial Local Government Law Commencement
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 4, 2025 0

The Lagos State House of Assembly has called upon the State’s Attorney General, Lawal Pedro (S...


Man Arrested for Brutal Killing of His Mother
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 3, 2025 0

A heartbreaking case of matricide has rocked the Dantanoma quarters in Gumel Local Government Area o...


PDP Bigwigs Urge Nigerians to Join New Coalition Against APC
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 4, 2025 0

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Senate President David Mark, ex-Governor of Jigawa Stat...


Senate approves new leadership for Law Reform commission
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 4, 2025 0

The Senate has ratified the appointment of Professor Dakas C.J. Dakas as the Chairman of the Nigeria...


Nigerian Deported After Conviction for Smuggling Fake $100,000
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 1, 2025 0

A Nigerian, Aremu Adegboyega, has been convicted by a Circuit Court in Accra, Ghana, for attempting...


ECOWAS Pushes for Legal Framework to Boost AI Development in West Africa
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 1, 2025 0

The Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Hadja Ibrahima, has emphasized the need for a robust legal fra...


More Articles

Load more...

Menu