Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability
Project, SERAP, has appealed to President
Goodluck Jonathan to, within seven days
“use his leadership and position to urgently
instruct the Power Holding Company of
Nigeria, PHCN, and the Nigerian Electricity
Regulatory Commission, NERC, to reverse the
new electricity tariff as it is manifestly
arbitrary, unfair, unjust and
discriminatory.”

In a letter dated August 2 by SERAP’s
Executive Director Adetokunbo Mumuni, the
organisation said: “We are seriously
concerned about the increased electricity
tariff by your government under the Multi-
Year Tariff Order, MYTO, and consider this
increase as anti-people and a flagrant
violation of the human rights of the most
vulnerable and marginalised sector of the
population.

“Our requests are entirely consistent with
the country’s international human rights
obligations and commitments,” and
threatened “international and national legal
actions if the government fails and or
neglects to reverse the increase within
seven days of the receipt and/or
publication of this letter.”

The organisation also stated that it would
“work with civil society, social movements
and community organisations and the
citizens to challenge this manifestly
unlawful action by the government.

“Increasing electricity tariff by over 100
percent at a time power supply has not
improved and indeed remains irregular and
despite this government’s often-expressed
commitment to improve electricity supply, is
anti-people.

“The much promised transformation of the
power sector by the government has
remained unfulfilled, while the majority of
the citizens continue to face extreme
poverty.

“Rather than arbitrarily increasing electricity
tariffs, the government should investigate
the spending of about $3.5 billion annually
on power in the last 10 years, and bring to
justice anyone suspected to be responsible
for the stealing or mismanagement of
public funds.

Where's the ultimatum? If after 7 days what?