Since the Federal Government privatised the electricity sector, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has implemented the
Since the Federal Government privatised the electricity sector, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has implemented the Multi-Year Tariff Order over five times.
While the President Bola Tinubu-led administration halted the planned review of the SBT tariff in July last year, his government opted for subsidy payments, which served as a shortfall between the actual tariff and the allowed tariff. Currently, Nigerians pay for poles, transformers, oil, and electric cables, in addition to struggling to get meters that they even pay for. In addition to that, they do not have a fair hearing when the system cannot keep to promises even at NERC forums. Chances that this would change under the current NERC guidelines and the provisions of the Electricity Act are slim.
Besides, these hapless citizens also question whether the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, or the regulator are out to deliberately exploit consumers. They are amazed that a country would adopt tariffs akin to countries with robust electricity sectors, which are marked by extensive infrastructure, dependable power supply, adaptable tariff frameworks, and a plethora of choices for consumers when selecting service providers.
Interestingly, the implementation of the increased tariff, like the consumers feared, has faltered from the beginning as DisCos are sweating to maintain a continuous 20-24-hour supply to affected customers. This inability has eroded consumers’ confidence in the government’s capacity to address the longstanding epileptic power supply.
Another consumer, via his X handle @BayoBakare, noted that since the inception of the band system, power supply has dwindled to zero for non-Band A customers as it appears that all the energy is now exclusively reserved for Band A customers . Expressing dissatisfaction with what consumers are going through, the National President of the Association for Public Policy Analysis , Princewill Okorie, questioned which part of Section 119 of the Electricity Act 2023 that DisCos are complying with.
“For example, why is it that after the consumer reports being overbilled, he is asked to wait for 15 days in darkness? Even when you report the matter again to their office, they may not bother to address the issue promptly,” he said. Also, an electricity market analyst, Lanre Elatuyi, told The Guardian that there are evident issues in the interfaces between TCN and DisCos, as well as, constraints within the networks operated by DisCos, which are impeding electricity supply for the expected duration of time across the different bands.
Operatives of the Rivers State Police Command have nabbed a 32-year-old man identified as Louise Brutolu, a resident of Igoni Street, Abuloma in Port Harcourt City Council of Rivers State for allegedly luring females through the Internet
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