‘Don’t pay increased electricity tariff until court reverses order’

The Nigeria Labour  Congress (NLC) has enjoined Nigerians that the Notice of Appeal filed by NERC & DISCOs does not vitiate or in any way impair the validity of the  Federal High Court, Lagos Division,  nullification of  the increment in tariff announced last December 21, by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC). Justice Mohammed Idris […]

The Nigeria Labour  Congress (NLC) has enjoined Nigerians that the Notice of Appeal filed by NERC & DISCOs does not vitiate or in any way impair the validity of the  Federal High Court, Lagos Division,  nullification of  the increment in tariff announced last December 21, by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
Justice Mohammed Idris had in the ruling ordered NERC to revert to the former tariff and restrained it from further increasing tariff “unless it complies strictly with the relevant provisions of the Electricity Power Sector Reform Act (EPSRA) 2005.”
The judge delivered the judgment in a suit filed by human rights lawyer, Mr. Toluwani Yemi Adebiyi, who challenged the increment.
The NLC president, Ayuba Wabba, in a statement issued yesterday signed by Toluwani Adebiyi Esq said that the judgment of the court that the increase in hike remains illegal, until the appeal is heard and overturned by the appellate court.
He said, “The court ruling remains binding and in full force until the stay of execution filed is heard and granted by the Federal High Court, which is as difficult as a camel passing through the eye of a needle.”
He  said, “ Nigerians are responsible people. We all know that business is for profit making but not at the detrimental exploitation of electricity consumers, meters must be provided for all, before tariff can be hiked.  We are not saying NERC cannot increase tariff, and it is none of our business what effect the reversal as ordered by court will have on their capital or investment, what we are saying is that, due process as provided by the enabling Act was not followed, the condition precedents were breached, it is procedurally ultra-vires, they had only succeeded in putting something on nothing, and so must surely collapse. ‘’
He argued  that  it was the same law the Federal High Court looked into that the Court of Appeal will also look into, saying  “so, tough time and unimpeachable failure await NERC and DISCOs, the fact that the reversal will affect their business does not right the wrong they have committed, their unending defiance can never right their wrongs.’’
He noted that a wise management and government would  obey court’s judgment, reverse the illegal increment and take necessary lawful steps to do the needful.
“Meanwhile, any bill they bring reflecting the illegal increment must be resisted. Enthroning justice as regard this hike is our collective responsibility, take note of names of DISCOs officials that come to serve such illegal bills, use the enrolled order and sue them and DISCO for contempt of court, until we resist evil policies, we cannot have Nigeria of our dream,’’ he said.