The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has urged the federal government to shelve its plan to increase electricity tariff by 40 per cent July 1, 2023.
It said that if nothing is done to halt increases in tariffs and cost of goods and services, life in the country could be truly unbearable.
A statement signed by the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, said the proposed hike in electricity tariff by July 1 is insensitive.
“The plan to increase electricity tariff by 40 per cent by July 1st is both insensitive and callous and reflects an organised indifference to the well-being of consumers, especially, the poor ones,” he said.
Ajaero said the massive increase may be coming as a response to the over 100 per cent increase in the pump price of petrol.
He said that reports have revealed a movement in inflation from 16.9 per cent to 22.41 per cent and threatening to hit 30 per cent with a shift in exchange rate from N441 to N750.
“We believe not even these figures are a justification for this reckless proposed tariff increase.
“The issue of capacity to pay and quality of service delivery are not only germane but superior to any rationalisation by market logic,” he said.
Ajaero expressed worry that service providers in spite of sundry support from government have not been able to meet the threshold of 5,000 megawatts.
In addition, he said there have been surreptitious increases without notice in violation of statutes.
According to Ajaero, the inherent risk in the new regime of tariff is that there is no control, implying that by August, consumers will pay new rates.
According to him, “The other risk is that by the time other product or service-rendering entities come up with their new prices or rates, the ordinary person would have been compacted into dust.
“We would want to advise apostles of the market who have called NLC all sorts of names to check their conscience.
“The rate at which they are going is highly combative and combustible. With contemplation of payment of school fees in tertiary institutions and increases in privately-owned ones in addition to other costs/tariffs on the way, life in Nigeria could truly be Hobbesian.
“The market economies which the market fundamentalists seek to emulate, have in place socio-economic safeguards which we do not have.
“In light of this, our advice is that this proposed tariff hike should be shelved for our collective safety.”
THISDAY
