Organised labour and other stakeholders have frowned at the planned electricity tariff hike, saying, the move could cause retrenchment in companies across the country.
They envisaged a situation whereby employers of labour may embark on retrenchment to cope with the electricity tariff hike, saying, this would further compound the already bad economic situation in the country.
On his part, the president of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, not only called on federal government to halt the planned hike in electricity tariff in the interest of the masses, he said the plan to increase electricity tariff by 40 per cent from July 1, is both insensitive and callous and reflects an organised indifference to the well-being of consumers, especially the poor ones.
Citing the current economic realities as reason for his call, Ajaero stated that, “details reveal a movement in inflation from 16.9 per cent to 22.41 (threatening to needle 30), and a shift in exchange rate from N441 to N750.
He said, if not halted and other product or service-rendering entities come up with their new prices or rates, the ordinary person would have been compacted into dust.
Likewise, while speaking with NATIONAL ECONOMY, Dr Innocent Ihennacho Ogbonna, described the planned hike as sign of insensitivity of government towards the masses who, he said, have been pushed to the wall with the current hardship in the country.
“Already, many manufacturing firms are not finding it easy. They have to face self-generation of light, but with hike in fuel, and now hike in electricity tariff, they will be forced to shut down. The new tariff increment is sign of day light robbery. They are doing whatever they want to do because the common man has nowhere to run to.
“In other countries, people will drag them to law courts, but here in Nigeria, going to court has become waste of time. Law courts which used to the last resort for the oppressed has been riddled with corruption. How many results have come out from dragging federal government to law courts by SERAP. Federal government seems not sensitive to the masses so, they keep coming out with oppressive policies. Professional ethics have been thrown overboard, this is a circle of man’s inhumanity to man, I cannot fuel my car, and with no constant electricity they are contemplating in hike.”
On his part, the president of One Nigeria Empowerment Initiative (ONEI), Comrade Onwumere John, described the planned increase as something that would make many businesses to shut down and throw workers into labour market.
“By this, our country leadership are showing that they are not there to make life better for the masses. Let them remember that the poor people are no longer cooking food because they cannot afford to pay for a litre of kerosene. President Tinubu should help with policies that can favour the poor people in the country for God’s sake rather than squeezing their necks with hard policies,” he pointed out.
Moreover, Onwumere said, “Within one month, they removed subsidy and now hike in electricity tariff, government is out to exploit the masses.”
