Protest Against Electricity Tariff Hike Grows Amid Worsening Social Conditions

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.”