- Femi Falana criticizes Power Minister Adelabu for failing to ensure consistent electricity despite tariff hikes for Band A consumers
- Falana condemns the tariff hike as illegal, asserting that the federal government and Adelabu have disappointed Nigerians
Human Rights lawyer Femi Falana criticizes Power Minister Adebayo Adelabu for failing to ensure consistent electricity supply despite raising tariffs for Band A consumers in Nigeria.
During a Channels TV program appearance, Falana condemned the tariff hike as illegal, asserting that the federal government and Adelabu have disappointed Nigerians.
The National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) recently raised Band A tariffs from N68/KWh to N225/KWh. Although Band A customers were promised 20-24 hours of daily electricity, complaints about inconsistent supply persist.
Reacting to the endemic national issue, Falana said the hike was imposed on the Nigerian government by the International Monetary Funds and the World Bank.
“The Minister of Power, Mr Adebayo Adelabu has failed to address the question of the illegality of the tariffs,” Falana said.
“Section 116 of the Electricity Act 2023 provides that before an increase can be approved and announced, there has to be a public hearing conducted based on the request of the Discos to have an increase in the electricity tariffs. That was not done.
“Secondly, neither the minister nor the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission has explained why the impunity that characterised the increase can be allowed.”
The renowned lawyer also expressed concern over what he described as impunity on the part of the FG and NERC, stressing their actions were not backed by laws.
He said, “I have already given a notice to the commission because these guys are running Nigeria based on impunity and we can not continue like this. Whence a country claims to operate under the rule of law, all actions of the government, and all actions of individuals must comply with the provisions of relevant laws.
“Secondly, the increase was anchored on the directives of the commission that customers in Band A will have an uninterrupted electricity supply for at least 20 hours a day. That directive has been violated daily. So, on what basis can you justify the increase in the electricity tariffs?”
Falana alleged that the Nigerian government is following the instruction handed down by the Bretton Wood institutions.
“The Honourable Minister of Power is acting the script of the IMF and the World Bank.
“Those two agencies insisted and they continue to insist that the government of Nigeria must remove all subsidies. Fuel subsidy, electricity subsidy and what have you; all social services must be commercialised and priced beyond the reach of the majority of Nigerians.
“So, the government cannot afford to protect the interest of Nigerians where you are implementing the neoliberal policies of the Bretton Wood institutions,” he added.