The Nigerian Senate has issued a stern warning to the Federal Government against any increase in electricity tariffs, citing concerns about the potential exacerbation of the hardships faced by Nigerians.
In a plenary session chaired by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, the upper legislative chamber expressed apprehension over the planned tariff hike.
During the session, the Senate adopted a resolution tasking its Committee on Power to investigate the purported over N2 trillion subsidy requirements as claimed by the Minister of Power. Additionally, attention will be directed towards the alleged N1.3 trillion owed to electricity Generation Companies (GENCOs) and a $1.3 billion debt to gas companies.
Senator Aminu Iya Abba, alongside 10 other lawmakers, sponsored the motion highlighting the impending electricity tariff hike. They cautioned against such a move, emphasizing the potential backlash amid ongoing economic challenges.
Former Speaker of the House of Representatives and ex-governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, echoed these sentiments, urging the government to prioritize addressing hunger and economic hardships before considering tariff adjustments.
Following a thorough debate, the Senate resolved to halt the planned electricity tariff hike in the best interest of Nigerians. Furthermore, they called for an investigation into the Minister of Power’s statement regarding the purported N2 trillion subsidy requirements, aiming to prevent a recurrence of a fuel subsidy scandal.
