Electricity: New Operators Want To Increase Tariff

New operators in Nigeria's power sector ask for increase in electricity tariff, as power situation keeps worsening. The plea also comes after service charge rise from N750 to N1,500 per month.
The Federal Government and organised labour are to meet today to review labour issues in the sector especially non-payment of terminal benefits for thousands of sacked workers, alleged victimisation of labour leaders in the massive sack of workers immediately after the take-over of the assets of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), among others.
It was gathered that, last week, the operators met with the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) for increase in tariff.
Director-General of the Commission, Mr. Sam Amadi, told the operators there is no basis to ask for increase while Nigerians were still lamenting the negative effect of last increase.

He was said to have also blamed the new operators for the massive sack of workers of the defunct PHCN, which had created shortage of manpower and compounded the power situation.
According to some sources, the new operators were said to have dissociated themselves from the sack, blaming the Bureau for Public Enterprises (BPE), for same.
However, it was not confirmed if NERC approved the increase in service charge from N750 to N1,500 monthly less than one month after take-over of assets.