At last, Discos get orders to comply to new electricity tariff agreement

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has finally directed all the distribution companies(Discos) to suspend implementation of the controversial new electricity tariff for the next two weeks.

The suspension was in line with the agreement reached by the federal government, the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC).as part of the conditions for the organised labour to suspended their protest scheduled for Monday, September 28, over the hike in the price of motor spirit known as petrol and electricity tariff.

The order for the suspension was contained in a statement released by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) on Tuesday, September 29 to the 11 electricity Distribution Companies (DISCOs) to stop implementing the new price.

The order from NERC partly reads: “Following a joint communique issued by the Federal Government of Nigeria (“FGN”) and the labour unions, the FGN agreed that the recent review in electricity tariffs would be suspended by the Commission for a period of 14-days to further consultations and finalisation of negotiations between the parties.”

As at Tuesday morning, the various DISCOs had spoken out that they hadn’t gotten any directive from NERC to adjust their billing even as they claimed it may take them four days to complete such adjustments.

TUC has threatens to resume strike if government fails to deliver on its promises of the electricity tariff suspension.