• As Reps promise to debate increment
Tinubu Media Support Group (TMSG) has said the increase in electricity tariff is not targeted at ordinary consumers in the polity.
TMSG, chaired by Jesutega Onokpasa, argued that the public outrage over the removal of electricity subsidy was unnecessary because majority of Nigerians would continue to benefit from the subsidy.
Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, had on April 3, raised electricity tariff for customers enjoying 20 hours of power supply daily.
Customers in this category were said to be under the Band A classification and the increase would see them paying N225 kilowatt per hour from the current N66.
TMSG condemned alleged attempt to muddle government policy by claiming that the price increase for electricity consumers in the Band A category would affect all consumers.
In a statement, the group argued that President Bola Tinubu deserved credit for signing an action that shielded 85 per cent of electricity consumers from tariff hike, while also paving the way for improved power supply in the medium and long term.
“We have seen how some individuals and groups have been jostling for media space to dish out misinformation on the recent tariff adjustment announced by the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and felt the need to join the fray in order to debunk the lies,” the group said.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has said the House of Representatives will debate the propriety or otherwise of the recent hike in the electricity tariffs upon the resumption of plenary later this month.
Kalu observed that the parliament, heeding the calls of Nigerians for its intervention in the matter, would adopt a win-win approach in resolving the issues.
Kalu stated this while speaking virtually on the special edition of “Ben Kalu’s Mandate”, a call-in radio programme of FLO FM, Umuahia, Abia State, yesterday, a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Levinus Nwabughiogu said.
The deputy speaker’s reaction followed an inquiry from a call-in listener, Okafor Chinedum, from Umuahia, who sought to know the position of the parliament on the matter.
The Deputy Speaker said: “It’s a general problem. While I was on my holidays, one of the things I was bothered with was a letter sent to me by the majority leader of the House on the need for us to intervene in a matter involving the University of Ibadan Teaching Hospital power supply. They were disconnected because of this hike and they don’t have the money to pay. We said it’s an essential service. Something should be done about it while we look at other details.”
