• Asaba residents hail court’s judgment
From Paul Osuyi, Asaba
Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors (ANED) yesterday appealed the judgment of the Lagos Federal High Court annulling the 45 percent electricity tariff hike.
ANED is the association of the 11 Electricity Distribution Companies (DISCOs) operating in the country.
On July 13, the court annulled the recent increase in electricity tariff as announced by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
Justice Mohammed Idris made the pronouncement while delivering judgment in a suit filed by a human rights lawyer, Mr. Toluwani Adebiyi, challenging the increment.
The judge described NERC’s action as being ultra vires, irrational, irregular and illegal.
Executive Director of ANED, Mr. Sunday Oduntan, said the association had appealed the ruling and would pursue the judgment to the Supreme Court for justice to be done.
On December 15, 2015, NERC announced new electricity tariffs for all class of consumers, which became effective on February 1, 2016. The directive also abolished the contentious fixed charges for all electricity consumers nationwide.
Regardless, Asaba residents in Delta State, yesterday, expressed excitement over the court’s judgment
One resident, Mr. John Akeni described the judgment as a lifesaver for ordinary citizens.
On his part, a civil servant, Mr. Chinedu Okolie expressed joy over the development and said the judgment was a reprieve from the clutches of exploitation of BEDC.
Okolie accused the electricity distribution company of slamming customers with outrageous bills without considering the fact that they were under-supplying power to consumers.
“My brother, for those of us in Asaba, power supply has been very poor but they keep bringing bills that are out of reach for the masses.
“We have not had steady power supply since the beginning of this year, yet they come with exorbitant bills for those with analogue metres while those with prepaid meters are finding it difficult to cope with the way it is running whenever they recharge.
“The situation was quite sympathetic, and we are glad that the court have come to the rescue of ordinary citizens in this country,” Okolie stated.
Also speaking, a public affairs commentator, Benson Agwu urged stakeholders in the electricity sector to put the necessary infrastructures in place before contemplating further increase in tariff, even as he welcomed the court judgment.
Agwu said electricity infrastructures were very deficient in the country, hence the epileptic nature of power supply, adding that consumers would want to get real value for their money, no matter how high.
“A situation where you pay for light and get darkness is not acceptable. I think what they should be talking about is how to improve supply by providing the basic supporting infrastructure so that electricity will be constant before they can talk of increase in tariff,” he posited.