A dramatic moment unfolded on Tuesday as the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, engaged with members of the National Assembly amidst a power outage. The lawmakers had summoned him to address pressing concerns regarding the electricity supply.
The Senate Committee on Power had convened to address the escalating price of electricity, seeking to forestall any further hikes. However, during the proceedings, a sudden blackout occurred, momentarily disrupting the meeting. Thankfully, power was swiftly restored, allowing discussions to resume.
In a poignant moment, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Power, Eyinnaya Abaribe, seized the opportunity to highlight the shared experience of power challenges faced by citizens and government officials alike. He remarked, “You see what just happened. This is what we all experience. We the Senators experience it too, and I am sure even the President does experience it at the Villa, just that he cannot speak out like we are.”
The power outage underscored the urgency of the matter at hand, particularly in light of the Federal Government’s recent approval, via the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, of a significant 340% increase in electricity tariffs for customers classified under Band A. This development has sparked widespread concern and calls for decisive action to address the growing burden on consumers.