Patrick Ahanor
A Benin City-based human rights group, One Love foundation, has berated the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) position on the contentious N750 electricity fixed charge, stating that the agency’s action is “divisive and laughable”
NERC chairman, Dr. Sam Amadi, had described the fixed charge as element of consumer’s electricity bill, adding that it was intended for permanent investments required to generate, transmit and distribute electricity.
He said: “Where any customer of a distribution licensee has not received continuous or cumulative electricity supply for a period of 15 days in a month, such a customer shall not be required to pay the fixed charge.”
Addressing newsmen at the weekend in Benin City, Chairman of One Love Foundation, Chief Patrick Eholor, however, disclosed that he was not aware of anywhere in the country where consumers enjoy constant light for two hours.
He described the mandatory fixed charge as “fraudulent and an impunity against the people.”
“This is a country where people will steal our money and get the police and soldiers to intimidate and harass us. We will resist them because they cannot reap where they did not sow.”
Eholor, however, lauded protestation against the fixed charge in some states and urged Nigerians to collectively sustain it.
“This demonstration is not about me or a segment of the society, but the welfare of 170 million Nigerians. Beyond the revolt, we in Edo state have tabled the matter before the governor and our representatives for onward action.”
