NASS Orders Stoppage of Planned Electricity Tariffs Hike

The proposed hike in electricity tarrif seems to have been shelved at least for now as the leadership of the National Assembly on Monday convinced the Electricity Distribution Companies (DISCOs) to defer the planned hike till the first quarter of 2021.

The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan made this known in a statement on behalf of the leadership in Abuja.

The statement by Special Adviser (Media) to Lawan Mr Ola Awoniyi said the lawmakers waded into the controversy surrounding to the planned hike which would have taken officers July 1.

Lawan said that Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila and other principal officers of the two Chambers met with the Chief Executives of the government electricity regulatory body and DISCOs across the country.

“The National Assembly leaders were emphatic at the meeting that the timing of the planned hike is wrong, even though they had not much issue in introducing a cost reflective tariffs for the power sector to attract the much needed investment.

“The agreement here is that there is not going to be any increase in the tariffs on July 1. The speaker and I, we are going to take appropriate action and meet with President Muhammadu Buhari.

“We are in agreement here that there is no question on the justification of the increase but the time is simply not right and appropriate measures need to be put in place.