The Coalition of Pro-Democracy Groups for a Better Nigeria has appealed to Nigerians to exercise patience with the administration of President Bola Tinubu over the ongoing reforms in the electricity sector.
The appeal was made during the Eid-el-Fitr special prayers for President Bola Tinubu, Chief (Mrs) Florence Ajimobi, Alhaja Kafayat Oyetola, Awa Bamiji’s ministerial nomination and memory of heroes and heroines of democracy in Nigeria, which was hosted by Awa Bamiji.
A statement by the National Coordinator of the group, Comrade Awa Bamiji, said ongoing reforms in the electricity sector is inevitable because it will guarantee stable power supply.
“As civil societies, we were at the forefront of the campaign for stable power supply before any increment in tarrif. But with paucity of funds, which led to fuel subsidy removal by Mr President on assumption of office on May 29, 2023, results of which are now glaring to us in less than a year, with the payment of foreign loans, clearing of $7 billion forex backlog by CBN, continuous decline of rate of Dollar to Naira and many more, we strongly think that we should give Mr President benefit of doubt and embrace increment in tarrif once and for all, which is far economical than using the same amount to buy fuel to power the generators at our homes or companies,” he said.
The coalition said it disagreed with the statement of Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, where he said: “People leave their airconditions and freezers on unused for days because of cheap tarrif of electricity in Nigeria.”
“We don’t agree with the statement of our dear brother, the Honourable Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu. Nigerians are free to use whatever they pay for the way they like as long as they don’t bypass meters. It is never a crime to do so and this should not be a reason at all for increase in tarrif. With the latest hike in tarrif for ‘Band A’ customers, people that can afford it, will still do that,” Awa added.
