Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar said that the hike in electricity tariff by the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led federal Government would create more difficulties for the citizens just as inflationary pressures would be elevated.
He said it was time to revisit the privatization exercise that produced the DISCOs.
Atiku also said that the manufacturing sector would similarly be impacted negatively, adding that not only are they paying higher interest rates on their bank loans but also paying more for diesel, paying higher wages as a result of the new minimum wage.
The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election, noted that President Tinubu’s men are pushing the economy into a deeper crisis, stressing that his reforms were without a human face.
In a statement he personally signed, Atiku said that as usual, the government was unleashing another dose of reforms without adequate notice and without an adequate post-reform plan to mitigate the pain.
According to him: “The increase in electricity tariff comes at a time when Nigerian citizens are going through excruciating difficulties occasioned by the withdrawal of subsidy on PMS and floating of the domestic currency.
“The government has not successfully dealt with the pains associated with the implementation of those measures, and now this.
“It is important that we understand the root cause of the inefficiencies in the power sector before unleashing another dose of reforms. It is time to revisit the privatization exercise that produced the DISCOs.
“Tinubu must (a) ensure that these reforms are sequenced, (b) implement measures to mitigate the pain, and (c) hold the NERC responsible for ensuring improved service delivery.”
Stay ahead with the latest updates! Join The ConclaveNG on WhatsApp and Telegram for real-time news alerts, breaking stories, and exclusive content delivered straight to your phone. Don’t miss a headline — subscribe now!
