Electricity Tariff Hike Amid Economic Hardship Ill-timed – NYCN

The National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) has frowned at the recent 300 percent increment imposed on a category of electricity consumers across the country, cautioning against its implementation. The tariff hike was announced by Musiliu Oseni, vice-chairman of NERC, in Abuja on Monday. The NYCN, in a statement on Friday in Abuja, by its […]

The National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) has frowned at the recent 300 percent increment imposed on a category of electricity consumers across the country, cautioning against its implementation.

The tariff hike was announced by Musiliu Oseni, vice-chairman of NERC, in Abuja on Monday.

The NYCN, in a statement on Friday in Abuja, by its National Public Relations Officer, Comrade Dotun Omoleye averred that further introduction of any economic policy that stretches the resilience of Nigerians could affect the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

While calling for the review of the increment with a bid to relieve the people of additional economic burden, Comrade Omoleye described the approval to jerk up power tariffs this time as Ill-timed.

Omoleye said: “The decision to hike the per hour tariffs of electricity to a category of customers at a time majority of Nigerians, perhaps with little exceptions, grapple with unprecedented low living condition that additionally subject the youth population to hopelessness and increased poverty, occasioned by the removal of oil subsidy since May 29, 2023 is Ill-timed, ill-advised and shocking.

“It worries me more that the government has constantly pampered the ineptitude of operators in the power sector whose top priorities have shown to endlessly rip off the helpless electricity consumers through willful and serial hike regimes with no supply to justify the increments.

“Instead of yielding to these shocking demands, the Nigerian Government holds the edge to protect its citizens from decades of darkness dished as rewards for service not rendered to the endlessly extorted and exploited citizens.

“It is regrettably concerning that like an open grave, the Electricity Distribution companies have taken pleasure in always asking for more payment on tariffs in exchange for darkness and poor service.

“We demand a reversal of this hike and insist that electricity should be made available to Nigerians, particularly to enable the youths access the opportunity to harness their business and entrepreneurship skills, manifest their potential and embrace economically inclusive enterprises towards productive addition for a safe and secure nation.”