New electricity tariffs: NLC threatens action against Discos, OPS says it will usher in recession fast

Organised labour and the organised private sector have slammed the upward review of electricity tariffs which started on September 1, 2020.

Commenting on the matter, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria said the tariff increase could trigger another round of recession in the third quarter of the year.

Ambrose Oruche, the acting director-general, Manufacturing Association of Nigeria, said the time was not ripe to increase the tariff because COVID-19 was still here which threatens businesses, with many jobs being lost.

On its part, the NLC said the hike would further deepen the poverty level in the country. The congress observed that the new tariffs structure was in breach of the resolution of the Senate and the directive of president Mohammadu Buhari that no action be taken on higher tariffs for now.

Ayuba Wabba, the NLC president, threatened labour action against the implementation of the new tariffs, saying that the Discos were testing the will of Nigerians with the plan of implementing the tariffs.

The NERC and the Discos had stated that the new service reflective tariff will be effective from Tuesday, September 1. The Discos stated on Tuesday that electricity customers, barring those receiving under 12 hours of power supply, would have to pay more.

With the new arrangement, residential consumers receiving a minimum of 12 hours of power supply have had their tariffs increased by over 70 per cent.