PREVIEW; The new electricity tariff has been in the formulation since summer, with the NERC chairman recently saying the rates are still to be agreed upon by the concerned regulatory bodies. Nigerians, individually and in various groups, are, however, already dreading and protesting the alleged 40% rise in electricity cost.
I guess the consequences of subjecting people to pay for services of questionable quality are unpredictable.
It is estimated that the entire power supply of Nigeria generates only enough electricity to power a single toaster for every 44 people. — UberFacts (@UberFacts) April 28, 2015 Nigerian electricity consumers are apprehensive about the impending take-off of a new tariff regime this November. The current tariff, N6 per kilowatt, may be increased by about 40% by some distribution companies (DISCOs), thus further pauperizing the vast majority of the people. The new tariff would have been implemented in June this year but for the sustained outcry of beleaguered Nigerians and a pronouncement by a court restraining the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and DISCOs from going ahead with the anti-people policy. Dr Dikko Halilu, the assistant general manager, rates and competition of NERC, had said at a stakeholders’ forum on metering code in Abuja some months ago that the commission had issued a notice to commence minor review of electricity tariffs. . The other day, Senator Ben Murray-Bruce from Bayelsa stood up on the floor of the Senate to speak on behalf of millions of Nigerian electricity consumers. He said the fraud called estimated billing for electricity not consumed must stop. Members of the House of Representatives have voiced out similar outrage over DISCOs’ fraudulent billing system even as their annoyingly inefficient operations persist. Recently, workers of the DISCOs took their impunity to another level by slamming bills increased by over 600% on consumers. Thus, consumers who were paying about N2,500 per month, suddenly started receiving bills of N13,000 with effect from August this year, even without a corresponding improvement on electricity supply.
Nigerians should not be subjected to this brazen fraud. The National Assembly, as the last hope of an ordinary Nigerian, should muster its powers and stop the planned increase in electricity tariff until there is steady electricity supply and every consumer is provided with a pre-paid meter. Anything short of this could trigger consequences of unimaginable proportions, as Nigerians who have been pushed to the wall over this issue are bracing up for the worst.
-prince holuwatobi from lagos Nigeria ( @tobi0147 on twitter)

Pls we need buhari to intervene asap