The federal government has slashed the electricity tariff for Band A customers to N206.80 per kilowatt-hour from the N225/kWh.
Ban A customers are electricity consumers with a minimum supply of 20 hours daily.
The spokesperson for the IKEDC, Olufadeke Omo-Omorodion, disclosed this in a notice issued on Monday.
According to the notice, the downward tariff review of the Band A customers would take effect from Monday, May 6, 2024.
“Please, be informed of the downward tariff review of our Band A feeders from N225/kwh to N206.80/kwh effective 6th May 2024 with guaranteed availability of 20-24 hours supply daily.
“The tariff for Bands B, C, D, and E remains unchanged”, the notice read.
It would be recalled that on April 3, the NERC revised the electricity tariff for Band A customers from N68 per kilowatt-hour to N255/KWh, saying other customers were not affected by the tariff hike.
Band A customers are expected to receive between 20 and 24 hours of electricity supply daily. Those under B enjoy 16 to 20 hours of power supply and those in Band C receive 12 to 16 hours daily.
NERC also said that Band A customers make up just 15 percent of total electricity customers in the country.
Additionally, these customers would no longer enjoy government subsidy on electricity.
Since the release of the supplementary Multi-Year Tariff Order, consumers categorised as Band A have been groaning that the rise in electricity tariffs weighs heavily on their finances, calling on the Federal Government to reverse the policy.
However, while appearing before the Senate Committee on Power at an investigative hearing over the tariff hike last week Monday, the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, warned that there would be a total blackout in the country in the next three months if the electricity tariff hike was not implemented.
The review of the electricity tariff has also generated reactions across the country.
For instance, human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), said the Federal Government was working in the interest of the International Monetary Fund, IMF, and the World Bank in hiking electricity tariff.
He said: “The Honourable Minister of Power is acting the script of the IF and the World bank”.
Also, the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Ikeja branch, gave the Federal Government and electricity distribution companies, DisCos,a seven-day ultimatum to reverse to the old electricity tariff or face a lawsuit.
Speaking, chairman of the branch, Mr Seyi Olawunmi, described the increase in the electricity tariff by almost 300 per cent as unreasonable and insensitive.
He said NERC order in respect to the tariff hike was not in line with the current economic realities of an average Nigerian.
Reacting also, the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, and the Trade Union Congress, TUC, appealed to NERC, and power sector operators, to reverse the increase in electricity tariff within one week.
President of the unions, Mr Joe Ajaero and Mr Fetus Osifo, respectively, made the call last Wednesday in a joint speech to mark the 2024 Workers’ Day in Abuja.
They expressed dissatisfaction over the epileptic power situation in the country. The labour leaders said it was affecting the economic growth of the country.
According to them, it is imperative that any nation incapable of effectively and efficiently managing its energy resources faces certain ruin.
In their words: “One of the pivotal factors constraining our nation is our glaring incompetence in managing this sector for the collective welfare of our citizens.
“Power, regardless of its source, remains paramount in kickstarting any economy, while oil and gas are indispensable for robust energy success in every country. “
They said it was absolutely critical for the government to collaborate with the people to establish frameworks that ensure energy works for all Nigerian.
According to the duo, the plight of the power sector remains unchanged over a decade after privatisation of the sector.
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