By Alltimepost.com
Nigerian Lawyer and Human Rights Activist, Barr. Toluwani Yemi Adebiyi has warned the Chairman of Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Dr. Sam Amadi to refrain from implementing a new electricity tariff on November 1, 2015 or risk going to jail.
Barr. Adebiyi said in a statement issued on Wednesday and made available to Alltimepost.com that such action would be at variance with subsisting court order not to increase tariff until the matter challenging the commission’s decision in court is decided.
It would be recalled that NERC recently said that a new tariff regime will take effect on November 1, 2015, as reported by some national newspapers, despite protest and condemnation by the Nigerian public, mostly spearheaded by civil society organizations.
Adebiyi who instituted the matter in court described such action as a blind intention that will take NERC and its cronies nowhere, but generate persistent protests nationwide “and real trouble for whosoever is behind the increment.”
“Nigerians are ready to pay any amount, but must get value for what they pay, increment must be balanced with quality supply,” he posited.
Adebiyi further said as follows:
There is no justification for doing that now, as the electricity supply is not yet stable; it is even getting worse in most places, while there are still areas without light at all for years.
Going by NERC procedures for increasing tariff, no consumer, not even the Manufacturers’ Association of Nigeria (MAN) they have been trying to cohort into accepting tariff increment, has willingly agreed to this unreasonable Increment.
Nigerians all over the country are still protesting NERC unfair Trade practices, which include the crude, fraudulent and unjustifiable fixed charge.
Both the Upper and Lower Chamber of the National Assembly have consistently warned not to increase Tariff; In fact, there have been a probe on the power sector by the senate.
The President of Nigeria had declared about a week ago, that there won’t be increment until there is stability of electricity.
Above all, is the subsisting court order that no increment in tariff until the matter in court is decided. For how long will NERC want to swim against the tide.
Even if the president should wake up today to say NERC should increase tariff, that cannot be done until the matter in court is decided; so, where the NERC Chairman has gotten the boldness to confront and intend to disregard such a subsisting court order I can’t explain and whosoever is encouraging him to do this will only help him get into trouble.
He had once committed contempt of court for accusing the judges of frustrating power sector reform, which has been under him for about 10 years, with huge investment, yet without any significant improvement; then Amadi was forgiven, this time around there will be no mercy for him, If Amadi dares the subsisting court order, then he is on his way to prison, and wishing him best of “LUCK”
