The Electricity Distribution Companies, DISCOs, yesterday, rejected calls by the Senate to suspend the new electricity tariff regime, arguing that suspending the implementation of the tariff will plunge the nation into continued darkness and as well diminished its prospects for future growth of the economy.

This came as leaders of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, and their civil society allies, yesterday said they were meeting with the Federal Government and the leadership of the National Assembly, to reverse the increase.

The DISCOs also warned that absence of a market priced tariff would endanger the viability of the entire value-chain of distributors, generators, transmission and gas suppliers, resulting in the failure of the sector.

Reacting to the Senate’s position on the new tariff, the DISCOs in a statement by Barrister Sunday Oduntan, Executive Director, Advocacy and Research, Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors, ANED, noted that the absence of a market priced tariff would create the possibility of performance failure by the operators.

The statement read: “The Senate on Tuesday, February 16, 2016 passed a resolution directing the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, to suspend the recently implemented electricity tariff (MYTO-2015). “However, implementation of this resolution is not without consequences and the following, a market priced tariff is a fundamental requirement under the agreements signed between Distribution Company, DISCOs, operators in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry, NESI, and the Bureau for Public Enterprises, BPE, raising the concern for sanctity of contract.

“The absence of a market priced tariff creates the possibility of performance failure by the operators. Such a failure will be at a price that the government can ill-afford in these times of dire economic challenges.’’

Meanwhile, leaders of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, and their civil society allies, yesterday said they were meeting with the Federal Government and the leadership of the National Assembly, with a view to reversing the recent 45 percent hike electricity tariff.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/02/tariff-hike-discos-reject-calls-for-suspension/

I guess this is why we no longer enjoy 20hrs light...when the new tariff was announced, my people, light was like rain... Well, its our punishment for protesting I guess...

Can't they be law abiding?

We will keep revolving around a circle like we got no clues. Discos will NEVER survive without increase in tariffs. It will not be a profitable business. When Discos don't grow, Gencos will not grow,let alone expand. We will end up fluctuating around 3000MW-5000MW for a long time to come. There is no magic involved. Maybe it will make some sense if government can encourage manufacturers of solar panels to come set up their plants in Nigeria so that low-energy consumers who can afford can buy them at cheaper prices, thus reducing the energy demand from the grid. If I may ask, why should the Senate wait till after the new tariffs were enforced before calling for reversal that due process wasn't followed? Have they been deaf since over 2 months that the new tariffs was slated to take off in February 2016?

Okay

Some times when you read news from Nigeria, you are either disillusioned or sad to ask why is everything upside down in the country

Okay

Our senate is a mockery of what a credible Senate should be. Where was the Senate all the while the plan was being sold to Nigeria?

Without tariff increase, how will Discos be able to provide electricity at profitable price?