The leadership of the National Assembly on Monday met with the Chief Executives of the government electricity regulatory bodies and Electricity Distribution Companies across the country over the planned electricity tariff hike.
The focus of the meeting was to look into the planned increase in electricity tariffs billed to take effect from the 1st of July, 2020.
The deputy president of the senate, Ovie Omo-Aggege said the plan was ill-timed especially at this period when the Covid-19 pandemic has taken a toll on the means of livelihood of Nigerians.
He planned a hike in electricity tariffs has now been deferred to the first quarter of 2021 as a result of the intervention of the national assembly while NASS leadership will meet with President Muhammadu Buhari over the matter.
“There is no gainsaying the fact that there is a need to introduce a cost-reflective tariff in the power sector to attract the much-needed investment but it shouldn’t be now during a global pandemic.
“Besides, appropriate measures need to be put in place to cushion the effect of this hike.
“Between now and the first quarter of next year, we will work together with the Discos to ensure that we put measures in place to support the eventual increase in tariffs while the government continues to support the sector to deliver quality services to the people,” he said.
