No To The Illegal Hike In Tarrif For Electricity – CACOL

The Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL), finds the insensitive hike in the tariff for electricity very provocative and illogical. We note that in spite of public outcry against any hike, the Power sector under the Ministry of Works, Power and Housing superintended upon by Mr. Babatunde Fashola, former Governor of Lagos State has gone ahead to illegally impose a tariff hike on electricity on Nigerians for services not rendered to them. This is flagrant and audacious corruption in a situation where the government is pontificating that it is against corruption and illegality.

“Mr. Babatunde Fashola, should be told that the Ministry he superintends over is not meant for the kind of antics that he got away with in Lagos state when was governor and trampled roughshod on the peoples’ right and public opinion, this is Nigeria, this is National and it is hugely above the microcosm that he evolved from.’’ The Executive Chairman of CACOL, Mr. Debo Adeniran said.

We make bold to say with every sense of responsibility that it’s the PHCN, the DISCOs, NERC that owe Nigerians money and apologies for not rendering services that they received money for and continue to receive money for, albeit, forcefully. Therefore we reject this hike in electricity tariff in totality, we demand that, power supply should be made available and accessible to all and a billing system that will be transparent, reasonable and commensurate to consumption. The DISCOs and NERC can take a cue from Telecommunication sector by providing meters; fixing the cobweb-like cables that dangle over the heads the people, mount poles etc. first, any other approach is like putting the ‘cart before the horse’ and therefore illegitimate and irrational!

Speaking further, Mr. Adeniran said ‘’every Disco should be enforced to meter all its customers. The demand by the distribution companies for cost reflective tariff so as to remain in business should be placed side by side with effective service delivery, after which the issue of tariff increase can now come. Until we fix our power sector, all the talk about the industrial revolution plans and creating jobs/wealth for Nigerians, will just be mere talks and a waste of time. The power issue is overly dragging and by now ought to have been a thing of the past. All hands must be on deck to make sure Nigerians have stable power/electricity supply.’’

We therefore enjoin the activist community, the masses, the Labour Movement and all that abhors exploitation and oppression to rise and resist the demonic and unjustifiable hike in electricity tariffs. We must move against the ‘change’ we did not vote for, to protect our being, and the struggle for a humane society.

Macjob Temitope

Media Officer,

CACOL