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November 20, 2024Proposed electricity tariff heavy financial burden on Nigerians — Senator Akintunde
Proposed electricity tariff heavy financial burden on Nigerians — Senator Akintunde
Senator representing Oyo Central district of Oyo State, Dr Yunus Akintunde, has warned against the proposed increase in electricity tariffs that customers would have to pay.
He voiced his concerns on Tuesday and took action against the plan, especially after the Distribution Companies (DisCos) filed for a rate review with the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
The primary worry raised by Senator Akintunde and others is the substantial impact this increase would have on the affordability of electricity for ordinary Nigerians.
He maintained that the proposed hike could exacerbate the financial burdens already faced by households and businesses, putting even more strain on consumers.
Senator Akintunde’s actions are aimed at safeguarding the welfare of the Nigerian populace, and he urged NERC and the 11 DisCos to halt their plans for tariff increase.
“I believe it is important for me and others to move the motion following request by the DisCos who have filed an application for rate review with the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC,” Akintunde said.
The Senate joined forces to protect the interests of Nigerian citizens and prevent them from facing an additional financial burden.
This move ensures that “citizens have the opportunity to manage their expenses more effectively.”
The Senate also made a crucial request to the DisCos to allow Nigerian communities to recover their costs for purchasing electricity transformers before requiring them to pay their bills.
This measure aims to promote fairness in the billing process and ease the financial strain on communities that have already invested in their electricity infrastructure.
In addition to that, the Senate decided to put an end to estimated billing and urgently supply all electricity consumers with prepaid meters at affordable rates across the country.
This step is taken to enhance transparency and accuracy in billing, giving consumers more control over their energy consumption and preventing any overcharges or billing disputes.