Mediaage NG News – ABUJA, Nigeria
The Nigerian Senate has said the government should halt plans of removing subsidies on electricity.
It also mandated its Committee on Power to probe a claim by Adebayo Adelabu, Minister of Power who said Nigeria can no longer sustain power subsidy.
Sponsor of the motion, Senator Aminu Iya Abbas said electricity tariff cannot be increased because majority of Nigerians are living below the poverty line.
“In addition to the high cost of living being experienced in the country, the unmetered customers who are owners of small and medium enterprises are adversely impacted by this level of exorbitant electricity charges. By implication, it will have their businesses affected, he said on Wednesday.
“While the prospect of the new Electricity Act, 2023 of ensuring accurate electricity charges will be negated if DISCOs are not investigated to ascertain the current statistical data on unmetered customers, poor provision of electricity service despite exorbitant tariff and regulatory role of NERC which leaves much to be desired”, Senator Abbas added.