It has been requested that President Muhammadu Buhari immediately rescind the alleged illegal, unfair, and unjustifiable electricity pricing rise, which allegedly took place in December 2022.
According to SERAP, the President should “direct the Minister of Power, Goddy Jedy-Agba, and the Chairman/CEO, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Professor James Momoh, to immediately reverse the unlawful, unjust, and unreasonable increase in electricity tariff, which is reportedly to have occurred in December 2022.”
In a statement on Sunday, SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, wants Buhari to “ensure the investigation of the spending of public funds as ‘investments and bailouts’ by successive governments to electricity distribution companies (DisCos) and generating companies (GenCos) since 2005, and prosecution of cases of corruption and mismanagement.”
Reverse Fuel Price Now – SERAP Asks Buhari
The country’s DisCos raised their electricity rates in December 2022 after the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) reportedly gave its approval. According to reports, a number of prepaid consumers have confirmed the rise. The rise has not been confirmed or denied by either the NERC or the Minister of Power.
“The increase in electricity tariff would exacerbate the extreme poverty across the country, and undermine the ability of millions of Nigerians to satisfy basic human needs,” the rights group stated.
“The increase in electricity tariff failed to follow due process. It is entirely inconsistent and incompatible with the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 [as amended], the Electric Power Sector Reform Act and the country’s international human rights obligations.”
“Millions of Nigerians continue to live in darkness despite the spending by successive governments of trillions of naira as investments and bailouts to electricity companies.”
Why Buhari Increased Fuel Price And Electricity Tariff – Reno Omokri
“The increase is unjustified, especially given the unreliable, inefficient and poor quality of electricity in the country. Rather than providing electricity discounts to poor Nigerians, successive governments continue to give bailouts to electricity companies.”
“We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within 7 days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall consider appropriate legal actions to compel your government to comply with our request in the public interest.”
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