Saleh Mamman, minister of power, has directed the Nigerian
Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to halt the implementation of the
reviewed tariff.
On Tuesday, the commission approved an increase in
electricity tariff across the country.
In a statement on Thursday, the minister said the tariff
review will be on hold until the conclusion of the joint ad hoc committee’s
work at the end of January.
Mamman said the government initially subsidised the tariff
of all categories of electricity consumers to cushion the effect of the
COVID-19 pandemic on citizens.
“Government continues to fully subsidise 55% of on-grid
consumers in bands D and E and maintain the life line tariff for the poor and
underprivileged. Those citizens have experienced no changes to tariff rates
from what they have paid historically (aside from the recent minor inflation
and forex adjustment),” he said.
“Partial subsidies were also applied for bands A, B and C in
October 2020. These measures are all aimed at cushioning the effects of the
pandemic while providing more targeted interventions for citizens.
“The public is aware that FGN and the Labour Centers have
been engaged in positive discussions about the electricity sector through a
joint ad-hoc Committee led by the Minister of State for Labour and Productivity
and Co-Chaired by the Minister of State for Power.
“Great progress has been made in these deliberations which
are set to be concluded at the end of January, 2021. Some of the achievements
of this deliberation with Labour are the accelerated rollout of the National
Mass Metering Plan, clamp downs on estimated billing, improved monitoring of
the Service Based Tariff and the reduction in tariff rates for bands A to C in
October 2020 (that were funded by a creative use of taxes).
“It should be clear to all that the regulator must be
allowed to perform its function without undue interference. The role of the
Government is not to set tariffs, it is to provide policy guidance and an
enabling environment for the regulator to protect consumers and for investors
to engage directly with consumers. Bi-Annual Minor reviews to adjust factors
such as inflation are part of the process for a sustainable and investable
NESI.
“To promote a constructive conclusion of the dialogue with
the Labour Centers (through the Joint Ad-Hoc Committee), I have directed NERC
to forestall the implementation of the duly performed minor review (which
adjusted tariffs between N2 per kWh and N4 per kWh) until the conclusion of the
Joint Ad Hoc Committee’s work at the end of January 2021. This will allow for
the outcome of all resolutions from the Committee to be implemented together.”
The minister said the Buhari administration is committed to
creating a sustainable, growing and rule-based electricity market for the
benefit of all Nigerians.
Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everydayMY STATEMENT ON THE FALSE CLAIM OF 50% INCREASE IN TARIFF.
— Engr. Sale Mamman (@EngrSMamman) January 7, 2021
On the 5th of January, 2021, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (@NERCNG) issued a statement regarding erroneous and false reports by print and electronic media that approval had been granted for a 50% pic.twitter.com/lZBU1tmki9
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