Senator Nwebonyi who is currently representing the Ebonyi North Senatorial District in the National Assembly urged the Ministry of Power not to contemplate an increase in electricity tariff at the moment considering the economic hardship facing Nigerians nowadays.
He asserted this on Wednesday in support of a motion moved by Senator Aminu Abbas, of PDP and a member representing Adamawa Central Senatorial District during the Senate Plenary on the need to retain electricity subsidies in the country for the foreseeable future.
It could be recalled that the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu had in a Press Conference in Abuja last week, disclosed that Nigeria is not likely to retain the current electricity subsidy.
Senator Nwebonyi while supporting the motion moved by Senator Abbas, argued that it is inconceivable to contemplate an increase in electricity tariffs taking cognizance of the excruciating economic hardship being faced by Nigerians at the moment.
His words: "In view of what Nigerians are going through economically today, we should not be talking of a hike in electricity tariff.
"I want to use this medium to appeal to the Power Holding Company of Nigeria to keep to their promise of giving all Nigeria prepaid metres. They should stop this idea of estimated bills, they are giving to Nigerians and I see it as intimidation.”
The federal lawmaker contended that Nigerians are suffocating under the yoke of estimated bills and called for an urgent overhaul of the system to ameliorate the sufferings of the masses.
Written and forwarded to the NATIONAL PANEL by Romanus Uzor Ozioko, the Legislative Aide to the Senate Deputy Chief Whip on Media.
