85% of Nigerians are still enjoying electricity subsidy— Minister of information, Mohammed Idris
THE Federal Government has said despite the new electricity tariff hike, approximately 85 per cent of Nigerians still benefit from electricity subsidy.
The government said this in response to criticisms of the decision by Nigerians.
On April 3, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) declared that Band A customers would see an instant increase in power tariff from N68 to N225 per kilowatt-hour.
According to the regulator, Band A customers, who constitute around 15 per cent of all power users nationwide, would no longer receive electricity subsidy due to the new rate.
However, according to a statement released on Saturday, April 13, by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, and signed by his spokesperson, Rabiu Ibrahim, 85 per cent of Nigerians who fit into various categories under the new electricity supply regime continue to receive the subsidy.
He claimed that only 15 per cent of the population, allegedly comprising mostly wealthy individuals and industrial clusters, benefited from the disproportionate 40 per cent electricity subsidy, said to provide electricity for around 20 hours a day.
In addition, the minister said the new Electricity Act signed by President Bola Tinubu strengthened the NERC’s governance framework and gave the agency the authority to impose harsh penalties on electricity distribution companies that violated billing and customer electricity supply laws.
