The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has vowed to mobilise Nigerian workers to resist the increase in electricity tariff by the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), effective from September 1, describing it is an adamant desire by the Electricity Distribution Companies (DISCOs) to ram through an ill-conceived agenda to further impoverish Nigerians amid plummeting return on service delivery.
The NLC President Ayuba Wabba, said this in a statement he signed on Tuesday and made available to reporters, adding that the astronomical increase is a ” taunting of the will of the Nigerian people gone far”.
He noted that this brazen decision was taken despite the fact the President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Assembly have ordered the DISCos to suspend the electricity tariff increase till further notice.
Part of the statement read:” We wish to state that the NLC seriously frowns at and completely condemns and totally rejects any plan to inflict further pains on Nigerians at this very time of great economic distress.
“The new dribble by the Abuja DISCO is dead on arrival as it will be resisted by the Nigerian working class and people. The other DISCOs should not bother putting their ships of exploitation to sail.
“Abuja DISCO has adorned the robe of the protagonist in this regard with its announcement of a new tariff plan for electricity consumers within its service area starting from September 1, 2020.
“This move is in spite of the resolution of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and even the direct orders of Mr. President that the plans by DISCOs to hike electricity tariff should be suspended until further notice.
” We are not aware of any order by the government or the elected representatives of the Nigerian people de-freezing the order to suspend any plans to inflict more pocket and psychological trauma on Nigerians by way of reckless and insensitive hike in electricity tariff.”
Wabba decried that since the unbundling of the former Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) to yield the DISCOS and GENCOs, electricity tariffs through the Multi Year Tariff Order (MYTO) have been increased a number of times without accompanying improvement in services.
He lamented that each hike in electricity tariff in Nigeria is trailed by huge leap in hours of darkness, de-metering of more Nigerians, exponential rise in incidences of estimated billing, and increased burden on citizens for the procurement of equipment and facilities for public electricity supply amidst other devious methods by DISCOs to cheat, exploit and despoil poor Nigerians.
The NLC also condemned the alleged “deaf and dumb” posture of the state electricity regulators – the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
He said:”It is important to put on record the fact that NERC would be putting its name on the wrong side of history if it continues to play the Ostrich while a group of portfolio investors make a bloodmeal of Nigerians. Nigerian electricity consumers need the NERC to speak up and act now in defense of the rights of the Nigerian people. “
