Members of the Organised Private Sector of Nigeria (OPSN) have kicked against the hike in electricity tariffs, saying that it will further hamper the country’s economic development.
The OPS, which comprises of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce Industry Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Nigerian Employers Consultative Association (NECA), Nigerian Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME) and Nigerian Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASSI) observed with concern the announcement by DISCOs of the takeoff of the implementation of the new Service Reflective Tariff with effect from September 1, 2020.
In a statement made available to LEADERSHIP yesterday, the director-general of NACCIMA, Ambassador Ayoola Olukanni, called for the suspension of the new tariff till further notice, saying, this is not the time to implement the new tariffs because businesses are still struggling to come out of the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
He added that the economy is yet to fully re-open to enable full production and improvement in liquidity to enable payment of these tariffs.
Olukanni, speaking on behalf of OPSN said: “Our position on the issue was clearly stated in March this year in the heat of the lockdown due to the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We called for the suspension of these new tariffs due to the fact that the pandemic had introduced a fundamental change of circumstances in our national economy in which productive activities had practically grounded to a halt.”
Olukanni said the proposed increase was also premised on improvement of regular and efficient supply of electricity which is critical to business operations of the private sector, especially manufacturing.
He stated that the proposed tariff increase should be suspended in the best interest of the economy and the wellbeing of the people.