On Monday, there was a dramatic incident at the National Assembly when the power supply was interrupted while the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, was speaking during the Senate Committee on Power’s investigative hearing on the increase in electricity prices. The power was quickly restored within five minutes. The Chairman of the Senate Committee, Eyinnaya Abaribe, mentioned that the minister’s remarks about the stability of electricity in the country were concerning.
He said, “You see what just happened. This is what we all experience. We the Senators experience it too and I am sure even the President does experience it at the Villa, just that he cannot speak out like we are.”
The Federal Government recently approved a significant increase in electricity tariff for customers classified under Band A. According to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), customers in Band A will now pay N225 per kilowatt-hour, up from the previous rate of N66. This change in tariff has sparked discussions and concerns among consumers.
According to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), customers classified under Bands B and A enjoy 20 hours of electricity supply daily. It’s interesting to note that these customers make up about 15% of the total 12 million electricity customers in Nigeria. The NERC Vice Chairman clarified that the tariff review would not impact customers in other bands. Additionally, the Senate has summoned the Minister to address the recent tariff increase and provide justification for it.
