By Tina Amanda
The Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEAC) has frowned, at the recent Electricity tariff increase by the Federal Government of Nigeria which was announced on the 3rd of April, 2024 from N68 to N225 without consulting with critical stakeholders in the sector.
In a press statement signed by the Union General Secretary, Nnamdi Ajibo maintained that the government’s primary responsibility is to provide social amenities to its citizens.
The statement reads: “What is Band A after all? The government must understand that one of its primary responsibilities is to provide social amenities to the people not minding the cost and effort put into achieving such.
“What has the government done in the past 9 months to warrant this astronomical increase? This is insensitive and unacceptable.
“We are not saying that there cannot be gradual review but first thing first.
“We demand an urgent downward review while acknowledging that exchange rates had also gone so high, thereby impacting greatly in the purchasing power of the common man.
We are of the opinion that this government cannot implement all the renewed hope agenda in one year.
Worldwide, no nation treats its citizens in this manner and expects them to remain silent.
“As a matter of fact, there is nothing wrong in subsidizing electricity and other essential aspects of the national lives of our citizens.
“The federal government should as a matter of urgency reverse the entire privatization exercise and provide the enabling environment that will guarantee businesses to strive before searching for good managers to take over the management of the sector”.
