…Says NERC didn’t consult him
Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo yesterday denounced purported hike in electricity tariff by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, (NERC).
Keyamo, who appeared on a TV programme yesterday, said he is the chairman of the sub-committee consisting of the FG’s-side and Labour-side, which had been mandated to go round the country to interact and consult with stakeholders and the electricity distribution companies, (Discos), to find an acceptable and cost-reflective tariff that should be paid by Nigerians.
He said the sub-committee was still in the process of carrying out its assignment and had not finished it, saying that there has been no increase in tariff.
According to him, what was agreed on was was to freeze certain bands, as there are Bands A, B, C, D and so on, saying that in the interim, what was done was to adjust certain bands and to ensure that certain persons who were supposed to be on some bands were not wrongly put on some other bands.
He explained that what had just been done was adjustment of certain bands, but that there had not been any increase in tariffs.
Keyamo said that what NERC had released did not reflect what was agreed upon at the level of the committee, adding that he was not consulted and that members of the committee also said they were not consulted.
The minister further stated that the committee was trying to fix a meeting for Thursday to find out exactly what happened and take it from there.
He assured Nigerians that the committee would soon come out with a statement before Nigerians to show the true position of things.
Similarly, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), also said it did not approve any 50% percent increment in electricity tariff across the country.
According to a statement the regulatory agency issued yesyerday, No approval has been granted for a 50% tariff increase in the Tariff Order for electricity distribution companies.
The Commission urged Nigerians to disregard the reports of an increment.
