The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, has described the increased electricity tariffs as “a painful pill,” appealing to consumers to “swallow” it.
Fashola stated this on the sidelines of the second monthly sectoral meeting with stakeholders in the power sector in Lagos, where he also inspected some projects at the Alagbon Transmission and Distribution Complex on Monday.
He said, “Importantly, I understand that people who have been disappointed over a long time will feel a sense of concern that again tariffs have gone up. But the truth is that these tariffs ought to have been there from day one. I don’t know why the government of yesterday was not courageous enough to tell us this was the price.
“It is a painful pill that I must appeal that we swallow. It is like quinine and malaria. It’s painful; it’s not sweet, I know that, but I do it because we are not left with many choices. This is the first major decision in power that this administration has taken. There are other problems.
“I can only appeal for some understanding and some trust that we do this in the best interest of our country. It is a hard decision, but I think down the line, we will have cause to look…”
Fashola’s comments comes amid the ongoing nationwide protest by workers under the aegis of the Nigerian Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress, which has grounded commercial activities in several cities in the country.
The minister, who faulted the way the privatisation of the power sector was carried out, said the sector was being plagued by several problems including gas supply shortfall and transmission issue.
The President Goodluck Jonathan administration had in November 2013 privatised the successor generation and distribution companies carved out of the defunct government-owned Power Holding Company of Nigeria, leaving out the transmission segment of the value chain.
When asked what the problems in the sector were, the minister said, “The problem is everywhere. The problem is with us. The problem is with gas. The problem is with transmission. The problem is with the way the privatisation exercise itself was conducted.
“But as I have said before, I am not going to lament what has happened in the past. I am going to move on with it. So, the first move we have made when we accessed the situation, nobody was happy with it when we took over.
“This is a problem that has been here for 16 years, if we put it mildly. It is a problem that has been here 100 years ago, if we put it really extremely. I have been here for less than a 100 days, and I think we can solve this problem if you give us the tools that we need to do it. I think that this problem can be solved, and the day that we feel that it cannot be solved, I will gladly come and tell you that I don’t think it will work.” Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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Rubbish! Nigerians saw how the so called Discos teamed up together and donated the claimed scarce cash to Jonathan during his failed reelection campaign,if the Discos can raised over N500m then for Jonathan,let them dip their hands in the same pockets they got that cash from to finance the power sector to a noticeable improvement level,where all Nigerians would have noticed an improvement in power supply to justify an increment,definitely not now.Alternatively,they should supply all houses with prepaid meters,then there wont be need for shouting that bills are not being paid
ReplyDeleteEven if we accept this tariff , well you assure Nigerians that there will be 24/7 hours of electricity throughout the year in every part of the country? If yes you have to demonstrate this first before you think of increase in tariff .
ReplyDeleteJust make sure there is employment and salary hike too. Shikena
ReplyDeleteYes we can bear it but you have maybe last your generation and that is why you want to kill ordinary poor People with tax.This is APC at its best.
ReplyDeleteThe change u ppl (apc) brought is just all abt pain abi continue to give us pain while u n ur cohorts live in luxury dats y d fg wil want to place a ban on i *pass my neighbour gen* but spare bigger gen for affluent to enjoy
ReplyDeleteI have personally noticed that this man called Fashola is an extorsionist and he has never reduced the pains of Nigerian even as a governor but always find excused to inflict pains on Nigerian through skyrocket increments.Give us prepaid meters, NO. Stabilize the light before increment, NO. Thunder fire ur generation yanch. Your days are numbered.
ReplyDeleteIt is the phenomenon call APC change.
DeleteThey are experts in the language of revenue drive. They hurt everybody to enrich a few. That is how they used the Lekki Toll road to destroy all the business along the expressway
Is it only electricity tariff? APC government want to kill Nigerians with revenue collection. Revenue this, revenue that. Is this the change u ppl promise? Go to the street and sample ppl opinions an see how ppl are wallowing in poverty. Not even one sector has improved. Keep blaming Good luck administration for everything don't stand up from ur slumber.
ReplyDeleteBecause you have made enough money to last your generation and beyond you want to kill the poor masses with tax.Haba! APC Change ! Na Hold up we dey now no longer go slow. I just dey laugh!
ReplyDeleteFashola is evil, a devil in a sheep clothing. Imagine telling Nigerians to accept the "painful hike in Electricity". Am miffed with all these APC noise makers, Amechi, Lair Lair etc. Where are the changes they promised the ordinary Nigerian. They siphoned all there State money and now they want to give us bullshit.
ReplyDeleteAPCeeeeeeeee! Change. Ei fi cee! Change.
ReplyDeleteThis is just the Beginning... Relax and enjoy your 'CHANGE' ride
ReplyDeleteMinister Fashola, or what should I call u? Do you think in the reality of justice that the financing to improve electricity supply in Nigeria should be a burden to be geared toward the innocent poor Nigerian? I don't think u would think so. But why would u even think in that direction in the 1st place. Let me ask you this quick question; how many of these poor Nigerians have embezzled Nigerian money? If none as I expect your answer to be, why then would you expect them to bear the burden of financing what was not caused by them.
ReplyDeleteI think u should immediately relieve the average poor Nigerians of this burden and think of other way of finance to at least get the electricity steady b4 you start thinking of higher tax pay/increase in tariff for the citizenry especially, the poor Nigerians who hardly can afford 2 daily meals.
ID. USA.
Fashola!!! Because you and your families and friends can afford an increase in tariff doesn't mean everyone can. Though you would agree with me that it's the right of every Nigerian to have access to electricity, I believe you will also agree that all hands are not equal. Back off!!! this increase in tariff at least for the poor... Source your funding somewhere else until there's steady electricity in the country for all. Pls. do not damage your well respected image and reputations in Nigeria and definitely do not destroy what APC stands for....
ReplyDeleteID...U.S.A
Minister Fashooolaaaaa...Haaaaaaaaa eyi o ma da.aa.. you want kill d innocent pple..wey no share $2.1 Billion. Pls ask for some of the returned looted treasury to fund your great ideas of increase in tariff.
ReplyDeleteID....U.S.A
Nigerian love pretend leaders who rule them into poverty and they praise him for doing that.
ReplyDeleteUntil Nigerian accept to live with truth, we will continue to live the way we are.
We want steady light, we dont want to contribute our own part. We complain FG makes excuses when they talk, when they switch into action, we still complain.