Reps Order NERC And Discos To Suspend Tariff Hike

 

The House of Representatives, through its committee on Power has directed the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to suspend its planned electricity increment, a report by DailyPost has revealed.

 

The electricity regulatory body had earlier announced planned hike which will take effect from April.

 

The committee chaired by Aliyu Magaji made the announcement today during a meeting with NERC and other stakeholders.

 

The Minister of Power, Mamman Saleh was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Ahmed Abdul.

 

Speaking at the meeting, the chairman of the committee stated that, “it would be criminal for Discos to continue to bill consumers if the estimated prohibition bill before the executive is not signed.”

 

Reacting to the statement by the chairman of the committee, the General Manager of NERC, Sharffudeen Mahmoud

 

told the House of Representatives committee that, “50% of Nigerians already have billing meters.”

 

But the Chairman asked the representatives of the Minister to send memo to all concerned agencies to ensure compliance.

 

 

Speaking on the recent directive by President, Muhammadu Buhari transferring the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Company Limited (NBET) From the Ministry of Power to the Ministry of Finance, Magaji said the ministry will remain in Ministry of Power, that it is a matter of law.

 

Magaji countered the directive by the president, “We are talking of the law; I’m sure somebody must have misled somebody somewhere. This law (putting NBET under the ministry of power) is yet to be repealed or reviewed.”