The Coalition for Affordable and Regular Electricity, CARE, has demanded for free electricity or have it largely subsidized for the working class and the poor to cushion the effect of the restriction of movement as a result of COVID-19 crises.
This is as the group also described the proposed hike in electricity tariff as reckless and unjustifiable.
CARE also dismissed the power sector privatisation by the government as a ruse and only meant to make a few privileged people super richer at the expense of consumers.
The positions taken by CARE are contained in a statement signed by its National Co-ordinator, Chinedu Bosah, and National Secretary, Shoyombo Monsuru.
The statement reads in full:
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and the Buhari-led federal government are hell-bent on increasing electricity tariff tomorrow April 1, 2020. This planned hike demonstrates the height of insensitivity and the anti-poor character of Buhari government considering the rising cost of living, the growing rate of poverty, the negative economic disruption of COVID-19 on the lives of the working masses. Despite the partial and full lockdown across the country as a result of COVID-19, no serious palliative or beneficial program for the masses has been implemented by the federal and state governments. In view of the current realities, we demand free electricity or largely subsidize the cost for the working class and the poor to cushion the effect of the economic crises in this period of COVID-19 crises.
Coalition for Affordable and Regular Electricity (CARE) condemns NERC and the Buhari-led government for their desperation to hike tariff considering the global economic crises. We have always maintained that the power sector privatization is a ruse and only meant to make a few privileged people super richer at the expense of consumers, and that is what is playing out graphically.
We insist that the increment which is between 40% and 90% depending on the division of consumption is reckless and unjustifiable.
There is no justification for incessant tariff hike had it been the $20 billion public invested in the power sector was adequately utilized and the private sectors profiteers (DISCOS and GENCOS) had invested considerably. Rather than hikes in tariff, the price would have come down because the significant investment would have provided better power facilities/infrastructure and ushered in efficiency and effectiveness. The bane of the power sector is lack of funding and democratic management of the funds; hence, privatization of the sector is doing more harm because the primary reason is to profit and not to improve the sector.
The Distribution Companies and the Generation Companies have failed woefully and incessant hikes in tariff and bailouts are reward and compensation for failure. We demand the reversal of the privatization policy, renationalize the power sector, introduce massive public funding and introduce democratic management of workers and consumers. We also demand the issuance of free prepaid meters to all that needs it.
CARE calls on community people, activists, pro-labour organisations, trade unions and their leaders to begin the mobilization of Nigerian people to resist this senseless and extortionist policy.
