Adebayo Adelabu, Nigeria’s Minister of Power, has stirred controversy by criticizing Nigerians for keeping their freezers and air conditioners running when they are not at home. Addressing journalists in Abuja, Adelabu stated that Nigerians lack a culture of power consumption management due to the affordability of electricity tariffs.
“The bitter truth we all need to tell ourselves as Nigerians is that only a few privileged people sit at the high table. We’re on the same level, and we must be able to tell the truth to ourselves,” he said. “We don’t have the culture of consumption management in this country in terms of power, just because of the cheapness of the tariff we pay for power.”
Adelabu further lamented that many Nigerians leave their air conditioners on to cool their rooms before returning home from work or social engagements. He also criticized the practice of leaving freezers running unnecessarily for extended periods, even when the items inside are already frozen, simply because electricity is inexpensive.
“We have all been overseas before; we know how conscious the power consumers are about electricity consumption,” he added, implying that Nigerians should emulate more energy-conscious practices observed in other countries.
Adelabu’s remarks came just a day after the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) approved an increase in electricity tariffs for customers under the Band A classifications. Customers who receive 20 hours of electricity supply daily will now pay N225 per kilowatt (kW), up from the previous rate of N66 per kilowatt (kW) – an increase of nearly triple the previous rate.
The tariff hike has drawn sharp criticism from various stakeholders, including public interest and human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong, who described the increment as “insane” and suggested that it could only happen under a President who is “divorced from the suffering of the citizens.”
In a post on his X handle (formerly Twitter), Effiong alleged that “President Bola Tinubu’s lack of empathy is gross and appalling.” He expressed fears about an “unprecedented state capture and lack of empathy” under Tinubu’s presidency, adding that the electricity tariff hike exemplifies the President’s detachment from the plight of ordinary Nigerians.
The Chief Whip of the Senate, Ali Ndume, has also rejected the electricity tariff hike, describing the timing as wrong and stating that Nigerians are yet to recover from the removal of fuel subsidies. Ndume condemned the move and called on the Federal Government to reconsider its position in the interest of Nigerians, who are facing numerous challenges, including unprecedented inflation, poor purchasing power, insecurity, and other hardships.
The former Leader of the Senate questioned why such an important decision was taken without proper consultation with the National Assembly, the representatives of the people. He noted that lawmakers’ constituents have been reaching out to them to intervene and reverse the “astronomical increase.”
Labor unions, ethnic and religious leaders, and other critical stakeholders have also rejected the hike, warning of dire consequences that may result from it. Ndume emphasized the need for the Federal Government to focus on providing stable electricity first, reducing inflation, stabilizing the naira, reducing food prices, and providing other basic amenities to Nigerians before considering a tariff increase.
“The news of the increment came to me and many of my colleagues as a shock. It also came at a time when the National Assembly was on a break,” Ndume said. “Personally, I think the timing of this hike is very wrong. Nigerians are grappling with many challenges.”
He added, “To put this fresh responsibility on them is very unfair. Nigerians are yet to recover from the fuel subsidy removal of last year. Many Nigerians are still grappling with the ripple effects that removal had on them. To now come up with this is wrong.”
Ndume acknowledged the high inflation rates, soaring prices of food commodities, drugs, transportation, school fees, and other daily expenditures, questioning how Nigerians are expected to survive the additional burden of increased electricity tariffs when the minimum wage has not been increased, and many state governments are yet to pay the current minimum wage of N30,000.
“We’ve to be very realistic and feel the pulse of the people we represent as a government,” Ndume concluded, underscoring the need for the government to prioritize the welfare of its citizens amid the mounting economic challenges.
The electricity tariff hike has ignited a heated debate in Nigeria, with various stakeholders expressing concerns about the timing and potential impact on the already overburdened populace. As the dialogue continues, the government faces mounting pressure to reconsider its decision or implement measures to cushion the effects on vulnerable Nigerians.