“The House observes that poor services by
the Discos have impacted negatively on the socio-economic growth of the country
as the International Monetary Fund Report of 2020 on Nigeria indicated that the
manufacturing sector lost over $200bn to inadequate power supply, while $21bn
was said to have been spent by Nigerians on generators within the period under
review.
“The House further observes that the
Nigerian masses have gone through so much hardship in recent times arising from
acts of terrorism, banditry, kidnappings, and farmers herdsmen’s crisis with
its toll on agricultural activities, displacement from ancestral homes, loss of
loved ones, starvation arising from inability to return to daily occupation and
loss of personal properties running into several million of naira.”
The lawmaker added, “The House is concerned
that at a time governments all over the world are adopting measures to cushion
the devastating effects of the dreaded COVID-19 pandemic on their citizens by
providing a wide range of palliatives to losses of loved ones, jobs, businesses
and general distortion in the social life, NERC is tinkering with the idea of a
further increase in electricity tariff after that of 1 January, 2021, in a
country where two-thirds of the 200 million population is grappling with the
crippling effects of the pandemic.”
The House also unanimously adopted a motion
by Olatunji Shoyinka titled: ‘Need to Investigate Transferred Debts Incurred by
Old Electricity Customers to New Users by Distribution Companies in Nigeria’.
The lawmakers consequently resolved to
mandate the House Committee on Power to “engage the distribution companies and
other relevant regulatory agencies to find a lasting solution and report within
four weeks.”
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