NLC KICKS AGAINST INCREASE IN TARIFFS BY ABUJA DISCO, SAYS IT IS TAUNTING OF NIGERIANS
By Joy Okosieme
The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) on Wednesday described the September 1 increase of tariffs by the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) as a taunting of the Nigerian people.
The NLC in a statement signed by it’s President, Ayuba Wanna, said it appeared that the adamant desire of DISCOs in Nigeria to ram through their ill-conceived agenda to further impoverish Nigerians through astronomical tariff increase amidst a plummeting return on service delivery had now been deregulated.
” TheDISCOs appear to have given themselves the ignoble tasks of taking turns to taunt the will of the Nigerian people. Abuja DISCO has adorned the robe of the protagonist in this regard with its announcement of a new tariff plan for electricity consumers within its service area starting from September 1, 2020.
“This move is in spite of the resolution of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and even the direct orders of Mr. President that the plans by DISCOs to hike electricity tariff should be suspended until further notice. We are not aware of any order by the government or the elected representatives of the Nigerian people de-freezing the order to suspend any plans to inflict more pocket and psychological trauma on Nigerians by way of reckless and insensitive hike in electricity tariff,” the NLC said.
It noted that it was unfortunate that since the unbundling of the former PHCN to yield DISCOS and GENCOs, electricity tariffs through the Multi Year Tariff Order (MYTO) have been increased a number of times without accompanying improvement in services.
“Each hike in electricity tariff in Nigeria is trailed by huge leap in hours of darkness, de-metering of more Nigerians, exponential rise in incidences of estimated billing, and increased burden on citizens for the procurement of equipment and facilities for public electricity supply amidst other devious methods by DISCOs to cheat, exploit and despoil poor Nigerians,” the statement said.
The NLC said organized labour frowns at, completely condemns and totally rejects any plan to inflict further pain on Nigerians at this very time of great economic distress.
“The new dribble by the Abuja DISCO is dead on arrival as it will be resisted by the Nigerian working class and people. The other DISCOs should not bother putting their ships of exploitation to sail,” the NLC said.
The NLC said it was deeply concerned about the “deaf and dumb” posture of the state electricity regulators – the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) noting that the NERC would be putting its name on the wrong side of history if it continued to play the Ostrich while a “group of portfolio investors” made a bloodmeal of Nigerians.
” Nigeriane consumers need the NERC to speak up and act now in defense of the rights of the Nigerian people. A word is indeed enough for the wise.
