Former Kaduna Central lawmaker, Shehu Sani, has lamented the burdensome increase of electricity tariff by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
This is as NERC announced it has approved an increase for customers under the Band A classification on Wednesday.
NERC’s Vice Chairman, Musliu Oseni, who announced the approval during a press conference in Abuja, said customers under the classification, who receive 20 hours of electricity supply daily, will now pay N225 per kilowatt (kW) — up from N66.
The rate increase, according to him, will only affect 15 per cent of the electricity customers in the country.
Oseni also revealed that these customers, who represent 15 per cent of the population, also consume 40 per cent of the nation’s electricity.
READ ALSO: NERC Triples Electricity Tariff For Consumers With 20 Hour Supply
He added that the commission had also downgraded some customers on the Band A to Band B due to non-fulfilment of the required hours of electricity provided by the electricity distribution company.
“We currently have 800 feeders that are categorised as Band A, but it will now be reduced to under 500. This means that 17 percent now qualify as Band A feeders. These feeders only service 15 percent of total electricity customers connected to the feeders.
“The commission has issued an order which is titled April supplementary order and the commission allows a 235 kilowatt per hour,” he said.
Reacting via X, Sani noted that the new rate will further ‘electrocute’ Nigerians who are already overwhelmed with the country’s economic hardship.
wrote, “Increasing electricity tariff will by 300% will finally electrocute human lives and businesses in the country.”
