Africa Press-Nigeria:
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has lambasted the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) over a proposed hike in electricity tariff starting from April 1.
The union noted that the NERC has not issued any reversal order to Electricity Distribution Companies (DISCOs), fueling reports of government’s decision to go ahead with the planned tariff increase in power utility.
NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, who stated these in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja, the nation’s capital, noted that any move to hike electricity tariff will increase burden on Nigerians who are presently battling the spread of coronavirus.
Wabba noted that any increase in electricity tariff would only convey a deafening expression of insensitivity to the plight of Nigerians who are currently dealing with the social scare, income hemorrhage, economic squeeze and mortal dread of Covid-19.
He warned NERC not to embark on any fruitless adventure that would cast aspersion on the good intentions of President Muhammadu Buhari as expressed in his nationwide broadcast of March 29, 2020.
The statement reads: “There are very strong concerns that the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) might go ahead with the planned increase in electricity tariff from tomorrow, April 1, 2020.
“The concerns in the public domain are not helped by reports that the NERC has not issued any reversal order to Electricity Distribution Companies (DISCOs) on the planned tariff increase in power utility.
“We wish to state that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) seriously frowns at, completely condemns and totally rejects any plan to inflict further pain on Nigerians at this very trying period of the novel Corona Virus (Covid-19) pandemic through increase in electricity tariff. All the leaders of our affiliate unions were unanimous in rejecting the planned increase in electricity tariff during our recent interactive session with NERC in Kano.
