Atiku Accuses Tinubu Govt of Increasing Electricity Tariffs Without Considering Impact on Nigerians

Former Vice President of Nigeria and 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has accused President Bola Tinubu’s government of unleashing reforms without considering the end-game. Atiku, in a statement on Friday, lamented that the recent increase in electricity tariffs by the government is ill-timed and would add to the pains of Nigerians.

Daily24 Apps recalls that the Federal Government, via the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), on April 3rd, approved a 300 percent increase in electricity tariffs for some consumers as revealed by the Vice Chairman of NERC, Musiliu Oseni, in Abuja.

But Atiku, in his reaction on Friday, said the move is another action taken by the government without adequate notice and without an adequate post-reform plan to mitigate the pain of the policy on Nigerians. He lamented that Nigerians are already experiencing a lot with the removal of the petrol subsidy and attendant inflationary inconveniences; hence, adding the increase in electricity tariffs shows the government doesn’t have a human face.

The former Vice President advised President Tinubu to always ensure that reforms are sequenced, implement measures to mitigate the pain, and hold the NERC responsible for ensuring improved service delivery.

Atiku’s personally signed statement reads: “As usual, the government is unleashing another dose of reforms without adequate notice and without an adequate post-reform plan to mitigate the pain. The increase in electricity tariffs comes at a time when Nigerian citizens are going through excruciating difficulties occasioned by the withdrawal of the subsidy on PMS and floating of the domestic currency.

“The government has not successfully dealt with the pains associated with the implementation of those measures, and now this. The hike in electricity tariffs will create more difficulties for the citizens as inflationary pressures are elevated. Our manufacturing sector will similarly be impacted negatively. Not only are they paying higher interest rates on their bank loans but also paying more for diesel, paying higher wages as a result of the new minimum wage. The President’s men are pushing the economy into a deeper crisis. His reforms are without a human face.

“It is important that we understand the root cause of the inefficiencies in the power sector before unleashing another dose of reforms. It is time to revisit the privatization exercise that produced the DISCOs.

“Tinubu must (a) ensure that these reforms are sequenced, (b) implement measures to mitigate the pain, and (c) hold the NERC responsible for ensuring improved service delivery.”