Senate Summons Power Ministry, NERC Over Electricity Tariff Increase

• Senate Summons Power Ministry, NERC Over Electricity Tariff Increase

• Chairman Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe expresses concern over persistent power challenges

• Investigative hearing scheduled for April 29, 2024, to address recent tariff hike

EKO HOT BLOG reports that the Senate Com\mittee on Power has called upon the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, and the leadership of the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to address concerns regarding the recent electricity tariff increase.

Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Power, announced this decision during the committee’s oversight function and familiarisation tour to the Minister’s office on Monday.

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Abaribe expressed apprehension over the persistent power challenges in the country despite significant investments in the power sector. He revealed that an investigative hearing has been scheduled for April 29, 2024, where key government agencies will provide insights into the recent tariff hike.

“We have summoned the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC). We will give them opportunity to speak to the electricity tariff hike. The minister of power is of course, expected.”

Senate Summons Power Ministry

Senator Abaribe expressed worry that the key players still lamented an avalanche of challenges and questioned why the TCN and other agencies in the power sector had consistently allowed the power grid to collapse over the years.

He, however, said the committee would report to the Senate, as requested by the TCN top echelon, to see if there could be a review of its annual budget for improved service delivery.

During the visit, the Senate committee inspected a power project on the premises of the ministry and held an oversight with the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) on the issue of power generation and transmission.

In his remarks, the minister enumerated the challenges affecting the power sector, including poor funding, vandalism, issues of right-of-way, and a lack of gas, among many others, and asked the committee to support the power ministry in achieving its mandate.

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Abaribe was in company with many senators in the committee, including Senator Dajuma Goje (Gombe Central), Simon Lalong (APC, Plateau South), and Osita Izunaso (Imo West), among others.

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