Rising Electricity Costs Draw Sharp Criticism From TUC

The recent hike in electricity tariffs by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has drawn strong criticism from the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), which warns of potential unrest in the country due to the burden placed on the economically disadvantaged.

Dr. Tommy Okoh, Deputy President of TUC, denounced the tariff increase as intolerable, urging the government to empathize with the hardships faced by the populace. He emphasized the unreasonable nature of the hike, citing the surge in electricity costs from 66/kWh to 225/kWh, particularly for those with only 20 hours of electricity supply per day. Dr. Okoh highlighted the impracticality of such a drastic increase, especially in light of inconsistent electricity supply nationwide, including crucial economic hubs like airports.

“This government must recognize that it was elected to serve and uplift the citizens, not to oppress them. This hike signifies a suffocation of the poor,” Dr. Okoh asserted.

NERC’s tariff adjustment aims to alleviate the government’s hefty N2.9 trillion electricity subsidy burden in the 2024 fiscal year, impacting nearly two million electricity consumers. Band A customers witnessed a staggering