Don’t Pay New Tariff Without Required Electricity Supply – Power Minister tells Nigerians

The Power Minister, Adebayo Adelabu, said Nigerians shouldn’t pay the new electricity tariff if they don’t receive the expected hours of power.

He noted that Band A customers should get 20 hours daily; otherwise, they shouldn’t pay the increased rates.

The minister also mentioned that without a tariff review, the government would spend N2.9 trillion on electricity subsidies this year.

These remarks were made during a Senate Committee on Power hearing about the recent tariff hike by 11 electricity distribution companies. Adelabu assured that the new policy is meant to rescue the sector and that any discomfort would be temporary.

Committee Chairman, Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe, raised questions about how customers transitioned from the previous Residential and Commercial categories to the new bands. He also questioned the legal basis for the band classifications and highlighted the need for non-discriminatory distribution.

The tariff increase sees Band A customers paying from N68/KWh to N225/KWh. Band A is supposed to receive 20 to 24 hours of electricity daily, Band B 16 to 20 hours, and Band C 12 to 16 hours.