The controversy generated by the new electricity tariff may have worsened as a new call by the leader of the Senate Ali Ndume.Ndume does not only demand the reversal of the increase but an outright revocation of the privatization process.
A visibly angry Ndume said that the hike in tariff was inexplicable especially since the companies that took over the nation’s electricity infrastructure for close to nothing had not even invested in the companies.
He said that the had it been withing his power, he will immediately revoke the privatization and amend the laws of the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to forestall future indiscriminate price increase.
“I am boiling and I am about to burst, there is no need for the increment in electricity tariff, they have no reason.
“These people took over these companies for peanuts and they have not invested, I have not seen, how will they just come and be charging people indiscriminately like that.
“This is not a competitive market where you say the market forces determine the price, they just want to take advantage of Nigerians, I am against that completely.
“In fact I am against the privatization completely, because there is no competition, they want to start charging whatever they like.
“In fact, left to me, that privatization of the power sector should be revisited and revoked. Ndume said that although the NERC had power to set prices, the recent increase was indiscriminate.
He said that the laws establishing the commission may also have to be revisited if the NERC continues to increase prices while the common man suffers.
“Even if it is the Senate that gave the power to those people to fix the price it is wrong and even if I was part of it I am wrong.
“If I can I will cancel their power to fix prices, how can they be charging us so much?” he queried.
Recall that the new electricity tariff regime which took effect on Feb. 1, has generated a lot of controversy with labour unions across the country threatening to go on strike.
Meanwhile, the senator however supported the recent N50 stamp duty which has also taken effect stressing that government needed to make more money to be able to finance most of its projects.
He argued that it was a government of the people and as such the people too must contribute to the funding of its government.
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