Federal Government Action is Political, Abolish Fixed Charges, Not Reduction of Electricity Tariffs, OPS Tells FG

The Organised Private Sector (OPS) and civil society organisations (CSOs) in Edo State on Wednesday described the 50 per cent reduction of electricity tariffs by the federal government as politically motivated, geared towards winning the forthcoming elections.

The Nigeria Electricity and Regulatory Commission (NERC) had on Tuesday announced a 50 per cent reduction in electricity tariffs.

But members of the CSO and OPS who spoke in Benin City on Wednesday said the major challenge of electricity consumers besides inadequate power supply was the contentious issue of N750 monthly fixed charges imposed on consumers by the electricity distribution companies.

Those who spoke included Osazee Edigin of Edo State Civil Society Organisation;Andy Edobor, Chairman of Benin Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (BENCCIMA); Noma Iguisi, Chairman of National Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASSI) and Tony Abolo, a media consultant and electricity consumer.

Edigin, who said the reduction of energy charges was not the major pre-occupation of Nigerians, noted that what the masses needed was the total abolition of various fixed charges across the country.

He said the fixed charge of N750 on residential consumers by the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) has been a heavy financial burden on the people of the state.

Similarly, Chairman of BENCCIMA, Andy Edobor, noted that the federal government came up with the 50 percent reduction of tariff on electricity when it was obvious that they will loss the presidential elections.

According to him, “The federal government action is political and it is now dawned on the government that they will lose the general elections that is why they are now doing everything possible to woo Nigerians.

“For businessmen, it is a welcome development and for the masses, it is of no use without regular power supply as well as if is not extended to the fixed charges.

“Private charges for INVESTORS cost between N100,000 to N200,000 and their electricity consumption monthly is not more than N20,000 and I want to ask, what is the rationale for the exorbitant payment for electricity when they did not consume up to that amount?”.

Reacting also, the state chairman of the National Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASS), Iguisi said the association was at loss as to what categories of the charges the 50 percent reduction of the electricity tariff affected.

Iguisi added that the national leadership of the body has been discussing with the federal government on the need to reduce the N14 per unit of electricity tariff and scrap the N31 per unit that is also charged. (Thisdaylive)