The minister of information and national orientation, Mr Mohammed Idris said 85 per cent of the population who falls under the different categorisations of the new electricity supply regime still enjoy subsidy.
Recall that the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) had on April 3 announced the tariff increment for Band A power consumers from N68 to N225 per kilowatt-hour with immediate effect.
It said the new tariff signified a removal of electricity subsidy for Band A consumers who constitute about 15 per cent of the total number of power users across the country.
But Idris said in a statement issued yesterday by his media aide, Mr Rabiu Ibrahim, said about 85 per cent of Nigerians still enjoy the electricity subsidy in the country, despite the over N1 trillion that would be saved from the fresh tariff hike.
The statement was issued in response to the continued reactions from Nigerians over the recent hike in electricity tariff
According to the statement, the minister spoke as a guest of the popular Hausa audience participatory programme of Radio Nigeria Kaduna called “Hannu Da Yawa” in Kaduna on Saturday.
He said the disproportionate amount of electricity subsidy, approximately 40 per cent, was benefiting only about 15 per cent of the electricity consumer population, comprising the wealthy individuals and industrial clusters that receive roughly 20 hours of electricity daily.
“Minister of information and national orientation, Mohammed Idris, has said that the over N1tn that would be saved from the withdrawal of electricity subsidy will be reinvested in improving power supply and the provision of social services for the country.
“Idris emphasised that 85 per cent of the population who fall under the different categorisations of the new electricity supply regime still enjoy the subsidy.
“The minister further stated that the new Electricity Act, signed by President Tinubu, had strengthened the governance structure of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission and empowered the agency to place severe sanctions on electricity distribution companies for infractions relating to billings and supply of electricity to consumers.
“Additionally, the minister revealed that the recently enacted Electricity Act, endorsed by President Tinubu, has bolstered the governance structure of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, allowing the agency to impose severe penalties on electricity distribution companies for misconduct related to billing and service delivery to consumers,” the statement said.
