Afenifere Condemns NERC’s Electricity Tariff Hike, Urges Tinubu to Reverse Decision

The pan-Yoruba socio-cultural and political organisation, Afenifere, has strongly criticized the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and the Ministry of Power for the recent electricity tariff hike, accusing them of forcing Nigerians to pay for their inefficiency.

In a statement released on Saturday, Afenifere called on President Bola Tinubu to reverse the tariff increase, emphasizing its potential to hinder the growth of businesses and the economy.

NERC announced on Wednesday, April 4, 2024, that electricity consumers on Band A would experience a 300% increase in their tariff, from N68 to N225 per kilowatt hour.

Afenifere argued that this increase would be detrimental to the Nigerian economy, as businesses would struggle to thrive under such conditions.

The group urged the government to explore alternative energy sources like solar and wind, review the terms of the 2013 electricity supply exercise, and be more innovative in addressing the country’s power needs.

Afenifere also highlighted the flawed logic in NERC’s claim that only those who are direct enrollees in a particular Band utilize the power being supplied through that band.

The organization emphasized that, to ensure fairness and efficiency in the power sector, the government should first ensure regular and efficient supply of electricity before increasing payments for services that are being poorly rendered.

The group’s statement raises important questions about the balance between revenue generation and the provision of efficient and affordable electricity services for the Nigerian people.

As the new administration under President Tinubu begins to tackle the various challenges facing the country, the electricity tariff hike serves as a critical issue that demands immediate attention.