The leadership of the National Union of Electricity Employees, on Sunday demanded a reversal of the recent increase in electricity tariffs.
The union, in a statement signed by its National President, Mr. Adebiyi Adeyeye, said the body would not hesitate to withdraw its members that would be used by distribution companies to impose the new tariffs if the hike was not reversed.
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission on April 3 raised electricity tariff for customers enjoying 20 hours of power supply daily.
Customers in this category are said to be under the Band A classification and the increase will see them paying N225 kilowatt per hour from the current N66.
Reacting to the development, the NUEE President, who said the tariff hike would disproportionately affect those that rely heavily on electricity for their daily needs, added that shift in pricing dynamics threatens to further expose inequalities among Nigerians by placing undue strain on the less privileged segment of the society.
Adeyeye argued that there was nothing wrong with electricity subsidy by government, as leadership of advanced countries also subsidise electricity for people.
The statement partly read, “It’s not out of place to have the government subsidise electricity. In some advanced countries, they still do that till now. Germany, for example, has a long history of supporting renewable energy resources through feed-in tariffs. The subsidy is paid based on the amount of electricity produced, and it helps to offset the initial cost of installing renewable energy systems.
“Also, the United States has various programs that provide subsidies to low-income households to help them afford their electricity bills. These programs are typically administered by state and local governments, and they can take the form of direct bill discounts or assistance with weatherization measures that can help reduce energy consumption.
“The recent electricity tariff hike is a blatant disregard for the economic struggles of Nigerian workers. Not even in a society where minimum wages are ambivalently doubtful.
NUEE strongly condemns this decision and demands immediate action to reverse it.
“If the government fails to address the crippling cost of electricity, NUEE will not hesitate to take strong action, including the swift withdrawal of our members expected to be used by DISCOs to impose the tariff hike on the good people, to protect the livelihood of our members.
“I, however, call upon all Nigerians to join us in raising our voices against this injustice. Together, we can force the government to prioritize the well-being of its citizens over corporate interests. Our unwavering commitment remains to safeguard the interests of our members and ensure equitable access to electricity for all Nigeria.”