The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has described the proposed increase of electricity tariff by the electricity distribution companies (DISCOs) as invitation to anarchy.
The Labour centre which warned that organised labour would resist the move further noted that it is totally oppressive, indefensible and retrogressive.
The TUC in a statement by its President, Bobboi Bala Kaigama and the Secretary General, Musa Lawal, said the present proposal to increase the tariff by an average of 49.4 percent is wrong and lacks human face.
“There is no gainsaying the fact that the present billing system is crazy, and any increase in tariff at this time is bound to make it even crazier”, the Congress said.
It stated further, “Why should the masses be at the receiving end of every wrong and retrogressive policy in the country? Why must they always pay for what the rich consume more of? What sense does it make for a man who earns less than N20,000 per month to be made to pay over N8,000 for electricity bill alone within the same month? Why should they pay so much for what they do not use regularly enough, with officers of the distribution companies rarely bothering to read the analogue metres? Why should these questionable issues that are spared no thought in other climes always take centrestage in Nigeria? Surely Nigerians deserve a much better deal.”
The Labour centre stated that the proposed increase could explain the reason for the NERC foot-dragging on the issue of making prepaid meters readily available to consumers of electricity so as to sustain excessive billing being imposed on the consumers.
The Congress added, “Also, the Congress is informed that NERC is considering introducing measures that will facilitate reduction of the rate of the fixed charge on consumers. What has been happening all along is same with what is obtainable in the telecommunication sector. They either assign tones to subscribers or enrol them on plans that attract daily, weekly or monthly deductions. We say no to this nonsensical idea. The N750 charge is fundamentally fraudulent and unjust and must be out rightly abolished. Anyone canvassing its sustenance or any increase in tariff does a grave disservice to the nation.”
The TUC said that NERC and DISCO would do well to shun anything that would attract the wrath of the masses, stating that rather, Nigerians expect them to earnestly adopt genuinely consumer-friendly policies.
It harped that the fact that power supply is relatively improved within the last few months does not mean that the myriad of challenges bedeviling the sector are over.
The Labour centre which warned that organised labour would resist the move further noted that it is totally oppressive, indefensible and retrogressive.
The TUC in a statement by its President, Bobboi Bala Kaigama and the Secretary General, Musa Lawal, said the present proposal to increase the tariff by an average of 49.4 percent is wrong and lacks human face.
“There is no gainsaying the fact that the present billing system is crazy, and any increase in tariff at this time is bound to make it even crazier”, the Congress said.
It stated further, “Why should the masses be at the receiving end of every wrong and retrogressive policy in the country? Why must they always pay for what the rich consume more of? What sense does it make for a man who earns less than N20,000 per month to be made to pay over N8,000 for electricity bill alone within the same month? Why should they pay so much for what they do not use regularly enough, with officers of the distribution companies rarely bothering to read the analogue metres? Why should these questionable issues that are spared no thought in other climes always take centrestage in Nigeria? Surely Nigerians deserve a much better deal.”
The Labour centre stated that the proposed increase could explain the reason for the NERC foot-dragging on the issue of making prepaid meters readily available to consumers of electricity so as to sustain excessive billing being imposed on the consumers.
The Congress added, “Also, the Congress is informed that NERC is considering introducing measures that will facilitate reduction of the rate of the fixed charge on consumers. What has been happening all along is same with what is obtainable in the telecommunication sector. They either assign tones to subscribers or enrol them on plans that attract daily, weekly or monthly deductions. We say no to this nonsensical idea. The N750 charge is fundamentally fraudulent and unjust and must be out rightly abolished. Anyone canvassing its sustenance or any increase in tariff does a grave disservice to the nation.”
The TUC said that NERC and DISCO would do well to shun anything that would attract the wrath of the masses, stating that rather, Nigerians expect them to earnestly adopt genuinely consumer-friendly policies.
It harped that the fact that power supply is relatively improved within the last few months does not mean that the myriad of challenges bedeviling the sector are over.
credit ; sun news
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