The house of representatives has again directed the Nigerian
Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to revert to the old electricity
tariff for Band A.
The resolution was passed on Tuesday following the adoption
of recommendations from the house committee on power, presented by Victor
Nwokolo, the committee’s chairman.
The report was adopted by the committee of the whole,
chaired by Benjamin Kalu, deputy speaker.
On April 3, NERC approved an increase in electricity tariff
for customers under the Band A classification.
The commission said customers under the category, who
receive 20 hours of electricity supply daily, would begin to pay N225 per
kilowatt (kW), starting from April 3 — up from N66.
The tariff was further reduced to N206.80/kW on May 6.
Defending the tariff hike before the senate committee on
power on April 29, Adebayo Adelabu, minister of power, said the federal
government could not afford to pay subsidies on power anymore.
He said for the sector to be revived, the government needs
to spend about $10 billion annually in the next 10 years.
Presenting the report, Nwokolo said NERC should revert to
the previous tariff as earlier contained in the motion of the house when it was
considered.
“And that within 60 days, they should comply with the
provisions of Section 116(2d), (3b), of the Act,” Nwokolo added.
He said the house also resolved that an independent team of
experts should be consulted by the joint committees to investigate what should
be the actual cost of electricity tariff.
Nwokolo said the lawmakers also resolved that all
electricity distribution companies should revert to the old tariff pending the
resolution of the matter by the house.
“In conclusion, the joint committees is that the
implementation of the tariff increase should be over a period of time, it
should be in phases not what they have just done, it should be in phases,” he
said.
On April 30, the house of representatives asked NERC to
suspend the implementation of the new tariff.
The lower legislative chamber passed the resolution during a
plenary session, following the adoption of a motion of urgent public
importance.
The motion was sponsored by Nkemkanma Kama, a Labour Party
(LP) lawmaker from Ebonyi state.
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