Popular lawyer and advocate of human rights, Femi Falana, has criticized Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, for failing to ensure consistent electricity supply despite raising tariffs for Band A consumers in Nigeria.
Falana condemned what he termed as “the illegality of the tariffs,” asserting that the federal government and Adelabu were unable to justify the tariff hike, thereby failing Nigerians. He made these remarks during an appearance on a Channels TV program.
It is worth noting that the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) increased the tariff for Band A customers from N68/KWh to N225/kWh. NERC stipulated that Band A customers should receive 20-24 hours of electricity daily, while Band B customers should expect 16-20 hours and Band C customers 12-16 hours.
Despite assurances from Adelabu, Nigerians have complained of inconsistent electricity supply following the tariff increase. Falana attributed the tariff hike to directives from international financial institutions like the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank.
Falana highlighted several legal irregularities in the tariff increase process, citing Section 116 of the Electricity Act 2023, which mandates public hearings before tariff adjustments. He criticized the lack of explanation from Adelabu and NERC regarding the impunity surrounding the tariff hike.
Expressing concern over government actions not aligned with the law, Falana emphasized the need for adherence to legal provisions in all government actions. He questioned the justification for the tariff increase in light of the failure to provide uninterrupted electricity supply as promised.
Falana accused the Nigerian government of following directives from international institutions to remove subsidies and commercialize social services, including electricity, making them unaffordable for most Nigerians. He argued that such neoliberal policies prioritize the interests of international financial institutions over those of Nigerian citizens.
