NLC slams Abuja DisCos over tariffs hike …threatens to resist it

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) yesterday threatened to resist the increase in electricity tariffs by the Abuja DisCos despite the Federal Government’s directive for the suspension on the planned hike by the DisCos.
Describing it as a taunting of the will of the Nigerian people gone too far, the NLC President, Ayuba Wabba said NLC seriously frowns at, completely condemns and totally rejects any plan to inflict further pain on Nigerians at this very time of great economic distress. “The new dribble by the Abuja DISCO is dead on arrival as it will be resisted by the Nigerian working class and people,” he said.
Wabba warned that the other DISCOs not to bother putting their ships of exploitation to sail.
According to him, “it appears that the adamant desire of DISCOs in Nigeria to ram through their ill-conceived agenda to further impoverish Nigerians through astronomical tariff increase amidst a plummeting return on service delivery has now been deregulated.
“The DISCOs appear to have given themselves the ignoble tasks of taunting and testing the will of the Nigerian people.”
The NLC President stated that the Abuja DISCO has adorned the robe of the protagonist with its recent announcement of a new tariff plan for electricity consumers within the sphere of its service area.
He noted that the move is despite the resolution of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and even the direct orders of the President himself that the plans by DISCOs to hike electricity tariff should be suspended until further notice. He said, “We are not aware of any order by the government or the elected representatives of the Nigerian people de-freezing the order to suspend any plans to inflict more pocket and psychological trauma on Nigerians by way of reckless and insensitive hike in electricity tariff.
“It is unfortunate that since the unbundling of the former PHCN to yield DISCOS and GENCOs, electricity tariffs through the Multi Year Tariff Order (MYTO) have been increased a number of times without accompanying improvement in services.”
Wabba lamented that each hike in electricity tariff in Nigeria is trailed by huge leap in the hours of darkness, de-metering of more Nigerians, exponential rise in incidences of estimated billing, and increased burden on citizens for the procurement of equipment and facilities for public electricity supply amidst other devious methods by DISCOs to cheat, exploit and despoil poor Nigerians.
He expressed that the NLC is also deeply concerned on the deaf and dumb posture of the state electricity regulators – the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
“It is important to put it on record that the NERC would be putting its name on the wrong side of history if it continues to play the Ostrich while a group of portfolio investors make a bloodmeal of Nigerians.
“Nigerian electricity consumers need the NERC to speak up and act in the defense of the rights of the Nigerian people.
A word is indeed enough for the wise,” he emphasized.