10th September, 2013
The Federal Government recently announced that it will increase electricity tariffs every year. Under the Multi-Year Tariff Order, MYTO, regime, there will be increases in electricity tariffs annually till 2016. The tariff schedule shows that the fixed cost will go up every year. The energy cost or cost per kilowatt-hour of electricity will also increase.
The increase means that electricity consumers would pay between N700 and N800 monthly, up from N500, regardless of whether they make use of electricity for the period or not. The government has also confirmed that this increase is preparatory to the privatisation of 18 state-run power generation, distribution and transmission companies.
It is sad that in a country where electricity supply is one of the worst in the world, the government is planning to add more burden to the heavy one the people are already bearing. It is not right for Nigerians to pay for electricity they do not consume. It is gratifying that a coalition of human rights activists, labour, journalists and lawyers have taken up the fight against this unjust and inhuman increase on behalf of the ordinary pulverised Nigerians by petitioning the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights.
We aver that the planned introduction of a new electricity tariff by the Federal Government will not only violate the rights of consumers under the International Convention on Economic Social and Cultural Rights but will also further impoverish millions of Nigerians already vulnerable and marginalized and lack access to basic necessities.
Increasing electricity tariffs by over 100% at a time power supply has not improved, and indeed continues to deteriorate, will exacerbate the poverty level in the country and further perpetuate discrimination, inequality and vulnerability, thus contributing to violations of the rights of the citizens. Also, while the government has increased electricity tariff, it has failed to investigate the spending and mismanagement of about $3.5 billion budgeted annually for power in the last 10 years.
It is lamentable that the missing $16 billion meant for power projects has not been recovered and perpetrators have not been brought to justice. Yet, electricity infrastructure is epileptic, and lack of maintenance precipitated by greed and official corruption at the highest level of government have contributed to the poor electricity services in the country.
We join other well meaning Nigerians to resist this crazy electricity tariff regime the government is trying to force down the throats of hapless and poverty-stricken Nigerians. We ask the Federal Government to immediately reverse to the status quo as its performance in the eyes of the masses plummets by the day. Tariffs must not be increased on electricity without corresponding improvement and stable electricity supply in the country. State governments should prevail on the Federal Government to drop this anti-people policy until stable electricity supply is available in this country.