The Campaigner - a subsidiary of LIFEINSLUM - join well meaning Nigerians and electricity consumers to reject the recent hike of electricity tariff declared by Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, on 5 January, 2021; few days after the end of year 2020.
The Campaigner say this is outrageous and inhuman on the part of the government to hike electricity tariff when Nigerians are still recovering from the depressing lockdown, courtesy coronavirus. Most especially, the economic recession Nigerians are undergoing because of the banktrupt regime we are.
More so, the policies of government on privatization has not in any way improve the lot of the working people. What it has continue to do in all these years, is to harden the very existence of people via economic hardships the capitalist regime has successfully implemented.
This increment is not going to turn around the terrible degeneration of the power sector since the seven years of privatization. Instead, it is to put more money in the pocket of the DisCos. Nairametrics (8/3/2020) said only in 2019 the Discos "earn(ed) N473 billion" from estimated billing.
In addition, between 2014 to 2019 alone, This Day (June 9, 2019) reveals that the "Discos’ Collections Rise to N831bn in Two Years" out of the set target of N1.3 trillion from electricity consumers. Only in Q2, 2017 and Q1, 2018; the collection rise to 62%. Also, in Q2, 2018 and Q1, 2019; it was reveal to be 66%.
With the above statistics and the DisCos' smiling to the bank with estimated billing, without necessarily improving the electricity sector. This increment for The Campaigner will give more license to exploit electricity consumers further. Also, more hike will follow, if nothing is done to reject it by organise campaigns.
The Campaigner believes that only an organize struggle and campaign is what can force the regime to reverse the new hike on electricity tariff. Initiatives, demonstrations, protest as arm for the working masses must be employ to commence rejecting the increment and crazy billing.
The Campaigner also advice electricity consumers to mount pressure on the labour leaders - NLC, TUC - while the struggle will be boiling, for them as traditional organizations to declare for a day of action to force the Buhari regime for TOTAL REVERSAL.
And as part of rejecting the new hike, The Campaigner is of the opined that a social media campaign with hastag like #EndTarrifHike, #RenationalizePowerSector, #Endcrazybills should be build across board to popularise the campaign.
In conclusion, The Campaigner advice that the call for TOTAL REVERSAL of the outrageous electricity tariff, must be link to the ultimate demand of re-nationalization of the power sector under democratic management of electricity workers and the masses.
Join the Campaign to Say No To Electricity Tariff! Enough is Enough!
Convenor:
LIFEINSLUM
9 January, 2021.
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