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Three groups have protested against planned hike in electricity tariff by the Federal Government.They demanded for the installation of prepaid metres in all houses in the country.
The groups included Democratic Socialist Movement (DSM), Ajegunle People Movement (APM) and Surulere Community Association (SCA).
“There should be a cancellation of all outstanding debts accumulated on the basis of estimated bills,” they said, while insisting that there should also be no payment for darkness or disconnection fees.
They all called on the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), United Labour Congress (ULC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the leaders of National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) to declare a day of action against the failed agenda of privatisation, which hasn’t improved the electricity sector but has further benefitted “private profiteers .”
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A Lagos-based lawyer, Toluwani Adebiyi, who participated in the protest, urged the government to stop the proposed 61.5 percent increment of electricity tariff.
According to him, the increment would infuriate and pitch the people against the government.Adebiyi said the economic recession has done enough damage to the ailing image of the government and by increasing the electricity tariff, it would escalate the hardship in the country.
He called on the people to resist the increase because: “Distribution Companies (DISCOS) cannot increase tariff when electricity supply across the nation clearly remains epileptic.”
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