Tina Amanda
A Labour leader, Comrade Innocent Lord-Douglas has condemned the proposed increase in electricity tariff, calling on the government to withdraw the policy.
Speaking to our correspondent on the development, Lord-Douglas, the Assistant General Secretary, Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEAC), maintained that the tariff increment does not reflect the economic reality of the common man.
He explained that the tariff which is currently twenty-nine naira was six naira before the privatisation of the power sector, noting that nothing has changed as consumers are constantly faced with outrageous estimated bills and power outages.
“We don’t support this proposed tariff increase. This privatization company took over when the tariff was six (6) naira, now it is twenty-nine (29) and they are driving it more higher.
“This is the country that is trying to recover from COVID and the first thing federal government thought it should do is to increase tariff, we do not support it, we are not an apostle to it and we reject it totally.
“Government should stop this policy until when the economy improves, they can now introduce some of these policies. What are people benefiting from the power supply they are giving? Instead of enjoying a good supply, people are enduring estimated billing, excessive payment and so on.
“As labour, we are standing against the tariff increase, saying this is not the right time, it should be stopped and withdrawn.”
Comrade Lord-Douglas called on the government to channel its effort into improving power supply and stop wasting its energy on policies for tariff increment.
“Tariff is very alien to our system, when they were talking about privatization nobody mentioned tariff, we did not know where they got the idea from. Instead of government focusing on how to improve power supply, they are busy discussing on tariff, how does that serve the benefit of the common man.”
