Akinwande Soji-Ojo
The Senator representing Osun Central in the National Assembly, Olubiyi Fadeyi, has lamented the cost of electricity in the country, saying he spends the sum of N1 million each on both power and purchase of diesel monthly.
Fadeyi stated this at the investigative hearing on the “need to halt the proposed increase in electricity tariff,” organised by the Senate in Abuja, on Monday.
The Senator stated that moving of customers to Band A was not justified as customers were not getting enough electricity supply.
The Federal Government of Nigeria through the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) had recently approved an increase of 340% in electricity tariff for customers under the Band A classification.
According to NERC’s Vice Chairman, Musliu Oseni, Band A customers will begin to pay N225 kilowatt per hour from the current N66.
According to NERC, Band A customers are those who enjoy 20 hours of electricity supply daily. According to reports, customers under this classification represent 15 per cent of the 12 million electricity customers in Nigeria.
Oseni, however, clarified that the review would not affect customers on the other bands.
But speaking at the hearing, Fadeyi said: “Honourable Minister, you’re a hardworking man and you’re putting in your best. But people are not getting value for the Band A power distribution.”
While trying to justify the increase in the price of electricity, Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, said Nigerians who were moved to Band A now spend less money on the purchase of diesel and petrol to fuel their generator.
Responding, Fadeyi disagreed with the minister’s assertion, saying: “I spend N1 million on electricity and another N1 million on diesel. This is excluding how much I spend on my businesses.
“If the electricity was good, I wouldn’t spend that much on fueling my generator.”
The Senator added that the NERC should put more effort into performing its regulatory role to allow for effectiveness.
