Encomium
The proposed plan by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NEPC) to increase electricity tariff has come under scathing attack from Nigerians.
The new tariff, according to the Minister for Housing, Works and Power, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, will be key in achieving reliable electricity supply in the country.
ENCOMIUM Weekly spoke with the public on the development and here’s what they said:
‘If we have constant light, no problem’ – Uduak Obong
It baffles me how the tariff keeps increasing yet the hours we get on a daily basis either dwindles or has remained stagnant. If we had a situation where there was constant light and they decide to increase as often as they do, there’d be little resistance to the move. But until then, people would challenge any attempt at increasing the tariff.
‘This government doesn’t care about the masses’ – Dubem Chukwujekwu
I read Fashola’s statement on the increase of the tariff it appears this government doesn’t care about the immediate effect it would have on the populace. I guess they are thinking of many years to come and not the immediate impact. Besides, what is the assurance that the monies raised would be re-invested into rehabilitation of our infrastructure.
‘Why will they increase electricity bill when there is no light’ – Mr. Godwin
Why will they increase electricity bill when there is no light for one week and when they bring it, it lasts only 30 minutes. I pay electricity bill of N8,000 every month without using what I am paying for.
‘It is uncalled for’ – Mrs. Agatha
It is uncalled for, if they want to increase tariff, let them supply prepaid metre. This PHCN people will just stay in their offices and bring huge bills every month.
‘Only the common man that will go through the pain’- Mr. Rasheed
If government should increase electricity bill, it is dehumanization and stealing because it is only the common man that will go through the pain.
‘If they increase it, it will not be easy for us’ – Miss Joy
It will not be okay if they increase the tariff of electricity in 2016 because even now we do not enjoy electricity and we are still paying for it. So, if they increase it, it will not be easy for us. If we do not make sales, how do they expect us to pay.
‘It is not going to work at all’ – Mrs. Bukky
It is not going to work at all. I’m using prepaid and I’m paying N750 for power that I’m not using. They do not supply electricity regularly and I still pay N750. If they increase it, it is going to really affect me because they will charge me more based on the appliances I use, like AC, television, etc.
‘We’re tired of paying bogus tariffs’ – Obi Uzor
Introducing any hike in electricity tariff is not acceptable now. What’s important is to make power supply regular first before thinking of hike in the tariff. Also, Nigerians need pre-paid metres. We’re tired of paying bogus tariffs without enjoying any corresponding supply of electricity.
So, before the government can increase the tariff, this must be in place first and must cut across. Now, not every house or business outlet has prepaid metre. Fashola should work on this first before any other thing.
‘It’s a wicked decision against the suffering masses of Nigeria’ – Salaudeen Ojulari
It’s a wicked decision against the suffering masses of Nigeria. I, personally, don’t expect such a thing from Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola. How can he think of increasing electricity tariff when we’re not enjoying adequate power supply?
I think he needs to think twice on the issue if he doesn’t want to incure the wrath of God. Nigerians are suffering already, he shouldn’t add to our pains if he can’t reduce it.
‘If the power supply is stable and the government increases the bills’ – Mrs. Elizabeth
I don’t support the idea of increasing electricity bills due to the instability of power supply. If the power supply is stable and the government increases the bills, I will be willing to pay, but when power supply is not stable and the government now increases it, it’s going to bring loss to my business because I will be paying for electricity bill and I will also be buying fuel, so I don’t support it at all.
‘They should give us quality service before the increasing it’ – Olusegun Alowonle
The electricity system is not good at the moment and they want to increase the tariff. I think they should at least give is quality service before increasing it so we can know what we are paying for.
‘I hope as the tariff increases so does the standard of electricity’ – Adeosun Titiloye
They only just increased our electricity tariff and I have been complaining, so when they eventually increase it again, I don’t know what I will do. We hardly have the electricity at the moment and we pay so much. I hope as the tariff increases so does the standard of electricity.
‘Increasing tariff is not the next thing’ – Ademola Taiwo
Increasing tariff is not the next thing. They are not talking about giving consumers better electricity supply. I watched in the news how people have been protesting about poor power supply. They don’t have power supply yet you take bills to them, that is not fair. They should consider customer satisfaction first before any other thing.
‘I don’t think this is the right time to increase tariff’ – Olu Adeshola
I don’t think this is the right time to increase tariff. I know a man in my estate who pays N14,000 monthly, does that mean he will start paying N20,000 for the light he hardly enjoys. That is outrageous. I think Nigerians should take laws in their hands and beat some of their officials. May be they will be forced to sit up. They are not considerate at all.
‘Do government want people to run away from Nigeria?’ -Damilola Kolajo
They have already increased the service charge and they want to increase the tariff, it’s not fair. Do government want people to run away from Nigeria? We have had enough, the light sef, we no see.
‘Electricity tariff should not be increased’ – Seun Ogun
Electricity tariff should not be increased, we pay service charge already and when our meter develops fault, they still collect money to repair it. Things are not just increased when citizens are not enjoying the money paid for it.
