Femi Falana, a human rights lawyer and senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), says Nigerians are being forced to pay higher electricity tariffs despite receiving a poor power supply from distribution companies.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television on Friday, the senior advocate criticised successive administrations for failing to reform the electricity sector and ensure accountability among power companies.
Falana said the privatisation of electricity distribution companies under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration failed to deliver the expected benefits to Nigerians.
“We can no longer continue in this manner,” he said.
“So it’s under the PDP and the APC government. I will just mention the electricity sector.”
The senior lawyer noted that during President Jonathan’s administration, a former minister said that the government sold electricity companies to their friends.
MORE FUNDS, LESS IMPROVEMENT
Falana added that despite receiving substantial government support, electricity companies have continued to provide inadequate services.
“Now, the government has been giving a lot of trillions of naira to the electricity companies,” he said.
“At the end of the day, you hear of Band A, Band B and the rest of them.”
He argued that consumers are paying more without corresponding improvements in electricity supply.
“We are paying more for services that are not rendered to the Nigerian people,” he said.
Falana also faulted plans by electricity distribution companies to increase tariffs, insisting that such increases must be tied to measurable improvements in service delivery.
“The electricity companies are planning to increase their tariffs again,” he said.
“Under the law, under the Electricity Act, you can only increase your tariff if there is an improvement in services.”
According to him, worsening power supply cannot justify additional tariff hikes.
“So if the situation is getting worse, there can be no justification for an increase in tariffs,” he said.
