MICHAEL EBOH, EDIRI EJOH &  MAUREEN UMEH

Condemnations have trailed the Federal Government’s decision to hike electricity tariff, as respondents who spoke with Sweetcrude lamented that instead of focusing on addressing the erratic power supply situation the government is more concerned about increasingtariff.

The Government recently announced an increment in electricity tariff by 8.36 per cent, from N13.75 per unit to N14.90 per unit.

The new tariff regime became effective from June 1, asannounced bythe Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission NERC, Dr. Sam Amadi.

Some of the respondents argued that the increase is anti-people, a ploy to further defraud Nigerians, and worsen the poverty situation in the country.

One of the respondents, Mr. Henry Okeke, a manufacturer of table water said, “It is just like any other increment. It affects my production cost because the day to day business of the factory has a lot to do with electricity. In fact, when there is no electricity we do not work, so the increase in tariff has in turn affected our production sequence financially.

“The new tariff will negatively affect my business and it will bring about an increase in the price of my product. Instead of N50 per bag, it will now be N70, and I guess it will really affect the buyers.

Also speaking, Mr. Kingsley Amobi, said, “The new increase in electricity tariff will be very bad for business. It will only be favourable to business if power is steady without any interruptions in supply, as it will help them save the money spent on diesel.

“Going by the present situation in the country, it will negatively affect businesses and the country in general. It will eventually lead to increases in the price of their products.

“It will also not be easy for many Nigerians especially the low-income earners, because the amount they will pay for electricity will be automatically increased and that will really affect them.”

For Mrs. Elizabeth Michael, Chief Executive Officer, Trendy Plus, a fashion outfit, the increment should bring about an improvement in power supply otherwise, it will be unnecessary.

She said, “If the increase will bring about development and stability in the power supply, then I am okay with it. However, if there is no improvement in the service delivery of electricity, there is no way I would support that.

“Honestly, this is bad because throughout last week, we did not even have a single minute of electricity. We had to depend of charcoal for ironing our clothes, and that is risky and stressful because you have to keep blowing to make sure it does not go off, and also while pressing the cloth, you have to be cautious so as not to pour the dust on the shirt.

“Also, we spend more of our profit on the purchase of kerosene and also fuel to power the generator in order to have electricity to carry out our duties.”

Also speaking, Mr Victor Odudu, owner of a frozen food shop at AlabaSuru, Lagos, said, “From the inception of privatisation till now, there has not been stability in billing and yet no improvement in power. I don’t have any problem with them increasing tariff, but I wish it would provide us with stable power supply because my business has to do with fresh supply, otherwise, they would go bad and become useless.

“Also, everything that has to do with business needs electricity for better service delivery. As at last year, my total loss was about N500,000 worth of goods that got spoilt as a result of poor power supply, because our goods are supposed to be fresh. While this year, I have lost over N125,000 worth of goods already.

“If you are to depend on fuel or diesel for four hours, you should be spending N5,000 and that is not economic. Normally, it is unfair to pay for what you don’t use.

“There was a period last year where we had constant power supply for over three months and the billing went slightly high but we did not complain about this because both were commensurate. If the tariff is increased, let there be a reasonable power supply. That is all I am asking for.”

Sue the government