Lagos residents have expressed shock at the proposed increment of electricity tariff, expected to take effect from July 1, across the country.
The hike which is set to become operational by Friday will put an additional burden of ₦1.50 per kilowatt hour on consumers, meaning consumers will pay ₦10.00 instead of ₦8.50 currently charged per kilowatt hour.
Announcing the increment last week, the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) chairman, Samuel Amadi said the move was to make the power sector more attractive to investors who have raised concern that the current tariff is too low.
Many Lagos residents are unhappy with the proposed additional charges, particularly, coming at a time when power supply in the state is at one of its all time lows.
Daylight robbery
Many consumers are billed arbitrarily, irrespective of the regularity of power supply, except for residents using pre-paid metres. But not many residences have been given pre-paid metres by the Power Holding Company of Nigeria.
A sportswear designer in Amukoko area of the state, where there has not been light for over two months, Usman Nuhu, said it would be unfair to continue paying for a service not rendered.
"What is the increment for," he asked, "because we have not seen light for over two months now. Despite that we don't have light, we are paying these bills. We don't know where to complain and if we stop paying, they come and disconnect the light."Mr. Nuhu has been relying on his diesel generating set, buying 30 litres at the cost about ₦5,000 daily.
He said, "It is going to be very hard if they increase the tariff; that means I will be buying diesel for my generator and paying more bills for the light they are not giving me."
A resident in Agege area of the state, Gbenga Ashaolu, described the proposed hike in electricity tariff as "wicked and unfair", asking the power company to disconnect his apartment from the supply.
"Only a thief will collect money for a service he has not rendered. It doesn't happen anywhere; it's only in Nigeria that we pay for what we don't get, and to now increase it again is the height of criminality. How can I be expected to pay more for what I don't even get regularly," said Mr. Ashaolu.
According to the electricity regulatory commission, efforts to woo investors by increasing tariff is for the general good, as active participation of private investors in the sector is expected to turn the situation around.
However, residents are not as optimistic, expressing fear that they will end up paying more for an abysmal service.
Service before money
Folake Wiwo, a resident of Abaranje, Igando-Ikotun Local Council Development Area of the state, said improving service delivery ought to be the major priority of the government.
Expressing displeasure over the value placed on money rather than service, Mrs. Wiwo said, "Increasing electricity tariff will not change anything because it is not the solution; people are ready to pay, but not before we see the services. As I'm speaking now, no light in my area; we are given two hours power supply in three days."
Organisations like the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress were also quick to condemn the move to proposed hike in electricity tariff.
In a recent development, the Campaign for Democratic and Workers' Rights, in a press release, has also described any increase in tariff as exploitative, "when they are not investing anything tangible to uplift the present abysmal state of facilities or adding to the generation capacity."
Source: 234Next
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