Confusion: NERC. Minister disagree over electricity tariff hike - Mamman, Keyamo speaks out

 

The federal government has asked the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to revert back to the old electricity tariffs.

This was contained in a statement issued by the minister of power, Engineer Saleh Mamman on Thursday, January 7.

Minister of Power  PhotoEngr.Saleh Mamman. Photo credit: @EngrSMamman

Part of the statement read:

“The Nigerian government continues to fully subsidise 55% of on-grid consumers in bands D and E and maintain the lifeline tariff for the poor and underprivileged.

“These measures are all aimed at cushioning the effects of the pandemic while providing more targeted interventions for citizens.”“Those citizens have experienced no changes to tariff rates from what they have paid historically (aside from the recent minor inflation and forex adjustment). Partial subsidies were also applied for bands A, B, and C in October 2020.

The last few days have been filled with confusion with the constant back and forth concerning the tariffs.

The minister's direct intervention is expected to douse the tension the news has generated in the last few days.

Hours after new electricity tariff was introduced by the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), the minister of state for labour and employment, Festus Keyamo, has said that the government never approved the hike in the tariff.

Channels TV reports that the minister explained on Tuesday, January 5, that what was done was to adjust certain bands and to ensure that persons who are supposed to be on some bands are not wrongly put on some other bands.

 Keyamo's position was contrary to a statement by NERC issued earlier on Tuesday, January 5, admitting that the rates for service bands A, B, C, D, and E have been “adjusted” by N2 to N4 per kilowatt-hour (KWH).

The agency had said that the adjustment was aimed at reflecting the partial impact of inflation and movement in forex.

The minister of state for labour and employment, Festus Keyamo, Photo . Credit: @fkeyamo

Keyamo, who is the chairman of the sub-committee mandated to go round the country to interact with stakeholders and the discos to find a cost-effective tariff that Nigerians can pay, maintained that there has been no increase in tariff.

Meanwhile, we previously reported that amid outrage that the federal government approved a fresh hike in electricity tariff, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) refuted the report of a 50% increment.

It was reported that the commission in a series of tweets via its Twitter handle @NERCNG on Tuesday, January 5, said no approval was granted for such an increase that took effect on January 1, 2021. 

But, some Nigerians say the confusion over the matter suggests there is no coordination between the ministry of power and the agencies under its purview.

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