On Tuesday, February 16, 2016, the Nigerian Senate ordered the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, to immediately suspend the February 1st, 2016 tariff hikes, which were estimated to be upwards of 40 per cent.
This decision by the Nigerian lawmakers followed series of protests across the country over the decision of the Commission to increase electricity tariffs in Nigeria.
Members of the labour unions and civil society groups kicked against the hikes by the Minister of Power, Babatunde Fashola, arguing that there must be proper metering of consumers before any increase can be accepted.
Explaining why it directed the suspension of the hikes, the Senate said any increase in cost, without the necessary improvement in service delivery by the power companies is unacceptable.
The senate emphasised that the power distribution companies must work to ensure that every establishment in Nigeria is provided with capabilities for metered billing.
Doing this, the upper chamber of the National Assembly, explained that would end the sharp practice of arbitrary billing, which estimates the power consumption of Nigerians in the generation of their monthly bills.
