… as labour threatens to take over NERC office in two weeks

By Victor          Ahiuma-Young, Emma Ovuakporie, Johnbosco Agbakwuru & Chris Ochayi

ABUJA—THE nationwide protest by organised labour and its civil society allies yesterday, against the hike in electricity tariff, got the backing of the SenatePresident, Bukola Saraki, and other members, saying the 8th National Assembly would not support any anti-people policy.

This came as factional President of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, issued a two-week ultimatum to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, to reverse the increase or its office would be taken over by organised labour.

Reacting, NERC justified the new tariff regime, claiming it made wide consultations before the increase.

A statement by Dr. Usman Abba Arabi, NERC’s Head, Public Affairs Department, explained that NERC acted in the best interest of customers and stakeholders in the development of the industry.

The statement read: “The existing electricity tariff which became operational on February 1, 2016 (MYTO 2015) was carried out after wide consultation with different shades of opinion, and in strict compliance with extant rules and judicial pronouncements.

“The clarification is coming on the heels of a media statement credited to Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, alleging certain infractions against the commission.

“While the commission will restrain itself from delving into a matter already before the court, NERC, however, has taken   note of the ongoing protest by NLC.

“In this regard, the Commission hereby states that it is committed to act in the best interest of electricity customers and all stakeholders in the development of the electricity industry.

The Reform Act

Protest against new electricity tariff

“In addition, the Electricity Power Sector Reform, EPSR, Act 2005, empowers any party aggrieved or dissatisfied by the decision of the Commission to appeal to it within 60 days from the date of the decision.

“Therefore, the Commission is still open to further consultation.”

Meanwhile, addressing the protesters the Senate President appealed to the labour leaders to give the National Assembly time to wade into the matter.

Saraki said: “This place (National Assembly) belongs to you. We are only tenants here for four years. I want to assure you that the 8th National Assembly is for the people.

“Even before now, we too have observed that this issue of tariff and some of the policies are not palatable and we summoned the NERC leadership even before now for a review. We will stand with you and ensure that no policy that is not palatable to the masses and the people stands.”

Melaye

Also speaking, Chairman, Senate Committee on Federal Capital Territory, Dino Melaye, said: “I want to assure you that the Senate is about  the people and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is clear where it stipulated that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary occupation of government. I want to assure you that it will not change.”

Senator Dino Melaye, who was with the Senate President to receive the leaders of organised labour alongside the Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, assured the workers that the National Assembly would not allow the greedy few to hold the nation to ransom.

Wabba

Earlier, Wabba described the increase in tariff as another form of corruption that should be fought by the present administration, noting that the most worrisome aspect of the development was that Nigerians were paying for darkness instead of light.

According to him, if there was improved power generation and distribution, Nigerians were ready to pay for the service, lamenting that apart from the epileptic power supply, Nigerians were subjected to outrageous estimated billing system.

He said: “For us at this very hard economic time, we think this increase is not only outrageous, NERC has not been able to convince us that this increase is actually desirable because of the challenge in the economy.

“Most people are still being billed on estimation which means majority of consumers have not been able to get meters.

“We have made the point clearly that policy is about the good and warfare of the people and therefore there should be proper consultations before such decisions are taken, especially where it will affect the poor and the less-privileged.”

Bobboi Kaigama, Fashina

President of TUC, Bobboi Kaigama, said: “We are here to express our disdain, our displeasure, our bitterness to an organisation that says it is working for the good of this country only to wake up one day and said we have increased electricity tariff from N14 to about N26.

“We are happy when we had them in an engagement last night. They confessed that they never consulted us and we wonder whether they have consulted the leadership of the National Assembly before the tariff was increased.”

Also speaking, Chairman of Labour and Civil Society Coalition, LASCO, and a former President of the Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities, ASUU, Dipo Fashina, said that what they were doing was to defend the interest of the workers and the oppressed people in Nigeria.

He said an attempt not to reverse the new regime would draw out workers and all people affected by this policy.

Meanwhile, the anti-electricity tariff hike protest held in all 36 states of the federation, with protesters demanding for reversal and, in some states,  locked out staff of DISCOS.