Abba Dukawa
Federal government has increase electricity tariff from N66 to N225. Even though NERC emphasised the increase in tariff will only affect customers enjoying 20 hour power supply and above across the country. While other customers in Bands B, C, D and E who consume less than less than 20 hours per day are not affected by the increase. Isn’t both federal government and National Electricity Regularity Commission playing with sensibility of Nigerians as the increased is across Bands. Another sensibility decision to place Nigerians in different electricity bands is a clear case of discrimination.
It is unfair and unjust to charge some citizens more for a basic service that should be equally accessible to all. The justification for the increase, which includes the need to improve the electricity infrastructure and ensure a reliable supply, is understandable, but the timing and the manner in which it has been implemented are highly condemnable.
At least the government should have taken a more holistic approach, addressing the underlying issues in the sector.
Since May 29, President Tinubu has removed petrol subsidy leading to petrol price rising from N195 to N617 and Naira has been devalued. This combined effect of the policies has dragging citizens to unbearable hardship with prices of commodities increasing by over 300 percent beyond their earnings. Within 11 months of the administration policies suffocating the poor citizens while the rich continue to smile to the bank.
I am fierce critic of the past administration for badly managing country’s economy. Leaving behind a chaotic foreign exchange system, a weak national currency, and a compromised and politicized Central Bank. Since than the country faces various forms of insecurity manifested after acclaimed technically defeated Boko Haram but other form of insecurity overwhelmed the administration security apparatus to curtail it and the insecurity becomes a billion of naira enterprises as the kidnappers heartless extorting millions from family and relatives of the captives victims as a ransom.
Since the administration assumed the leadership concerned Nigerians knocked the government for being insensitive to the plight of Nigerians who are still grappling with the economical impact of petrol subsidy removal and the collapse of the foreign exchange windows, and now electricity tariff hake these decisions have resulted in unprecedented high cost of living.
Either silently or openly concerned Nigerians doubtful if the current administration understanding dark cloud in the sky courtesy of it’s overstretched the patient of the citizens by imposing further strangulating measures on them this not only threaten system, may also lead to a public anger against harsh policies that have reduced citizens into beggars and now depend on palliatives for survival.
With recent woes of the deteriorating state of the economy and rising cases of insecurity across the country will not subside until President comes up with urgent remedial measures to dealt with the situation not as its predecessor badly manage the situation.
I am not intend to write anything that may sound inciting a violence or cause civil disobedience but it is a gospel truth to the leaders. To understand within 11 months of the administration million families have been dehumanised by the economic hardship, as the administration’s Renewed Hope is increasingly turning into Renewed Frustration for citizens. Some of the administration policies only exacerbate the already-existing inequality in the country, which could lead to social unrest and political instability.
Since the removal of petroleum subsidy 11 months the citizens are caught in a vicious cycle battling for daily survival, and trapped in a never-ending struggle to make ends meet.
Even though President has on many occasions acknowledged the citizens suffering but who can help me to tell Mr president the suffering has become unbearable which has forced some hungry peoples across the country to witnessed incidences of looting some of warehouses both private, public stores and trucks carrying food supplies across the country. I was told that most Rice Processing Mills Industries in Kano resorted of supply they products at very odd hours when the there is no road user in the night to avoid being attack by angry and hungry peoples.
Some months ago there is looting incidences across the country which is a stark warning about the potential anarchy if urgent action is not taken to address the growing anger and hungry by the majority of Nigerians that has been affected in vicious hardship.
From all indication the administration can tackle cost of living, insecurity and other issues as it’s does against Free Failing Naira at the black market. It has became clear that the duty of every administration was to improve the well-being, security and economic prosperity of the country.
Let not forget; the government’s decision to increase electricity tariff at this time is insensitive and detrimental to the well-being of the Nigerian people. Because the tariff hike will mostly affect manufacturing industries whose locations are granted concession of having electricity supply for 20hrs per day. Therefore the industries affected will have no option than to build the hike in electricity tariff into the landing cost of commodities.
Dukawa write in from Abuja can be reach at abbahydukawa@gmail.com
