The House of Representatives has called on the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, to put a stop to the planned increase in electricity tariff for now. To this end, the House yesterday mandated its Committee on Power (when constituted) to interface with NERC, with a view to finding a common ground to address the proposed hike in the interest of Nigerians.

The resolution followed a motion moved by the Deputy Minority Whip, Aliyu Madaki, who expressed concerns over the suspense created by the planned increase in electricity tariff by Distribution Companies, DISCOs.

He recalled that the DISCOs recently alerted customers of a planned electricity tariff hike, hinged on the Multi-Year Tariff Oder, MYTO, citing a circular issued to that effect by the distribution firms, stating that effective July 1, 2023, there would be an upward review of electricity tariff influenced by fluctuating rates of the naira to the dollar.

According to him, “under the MYTO, 2022 guidelines, the previous exchange rate of N 441/$1 may be revised to approximately N750/$1 which would have an impact on the tariffs associated with electricity consumption.”

He pointed out that under the planned hike, consumers within ‘B’ and ‘C’ with supply hours ranging from 12–16 hours per day would pay N100 per KWh, while Bands ‘A’ with 20 hours and above and ‘B’ with 16–20 hours, would experience comparatively higher tariffs for customers with a prepaid metre, whereas, for those on post-paid (estimated) billing, a significant increment is expected to be higher.

The lawmaker said:  “There is widespread apprehension in the country over the planned introduction of a new electricity tariff regime by the Distribution companies, DISCOS,” he said, adding that the recent statement by the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, AEDC, directing its consumers to disregard the earlier notice of the increase in the electricity tariffs was confusing, as members of the public are confused as to what to believe.

“The proposed increase is coming, despite the inability of the operators to meet the threshold of supplying at least 5,000 megawatts per year after signing the contract with the National Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC.

“It is most inappropriate and insensitive to come up with a price increase of such magnitude at this time when many Nigerians are yet to come to terms with the increase in petrol prices,” he said.

Gov. Alex Otti of Abia State has exposed how his predecessor, Okezie Ikpeazu, is allegedly making desperate efforts to avoid a probe by procuring a court order to stop the Judiciary Panel on the Recovery of Government Properties and Funds belonging to Abia State, from carrying out its assignment.

According to the Governor, Ikpeazu who is apparently rattled by the establishment of the panel, has gone shopping for a court order in Abuja to stop the panel but without success.

“Unfortunately for Ikpeazu, every effort to surreptitiously obtain an order of the court against the panel has failed”, Otti said.

Otti in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Kazie Uko, said:” Twice, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) former Governor had approached the Federal High Court in Abuja for ex parte order to restrain the Judicial Panel, from doing its work, but on the two occasions he was rebuffed by the courts.” Continuing the statement read:” The two attempts were rejected because he failed to put the state government on notice as directed by the courts.

“A source conversant with details of the two futile moves by Ikpeazu puts it in proper perspective:

“Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, the immediate past Governor of Abia State, had instituted Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/907/2023 DR. OKEZIE IKPEAZU & 3 ORS VS GOVERNOR OF ABIA STATE & 8 ORS in the Abuja division of the Federal High Court and same was assigned to his Lordship Hon. Justice Omotosho J.

“In that suit, Dr. Ikpeazu sought (by way of an Ex-Parte application) to secure an Ex-Parte order to restrain a Judicial Panel of Enquiry set up by the Government of Abia State to recover government properties and funds. His Lordship Hon. Justice Omotosho J. refused the Ex-Parte application insisting that the respondents be put on notice.

“He immediately withdrew the suit and filed a fresh one FHC/ABJ/CS/945/2023 Ikpeazu Vs INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE (IGP) & 8 ORS which was assigned to His Lordship Hon. Justice Obiora Egwuatu, who, also refused the Ex-Parte application to restrain the proceedings of the panel and gave the Claimant 2 (two) days to put the respondents on notice. He once again quickly withdrew the suit

Otti who vowed to recover every dime stolen from the state, said that his predecessor had not given up on his desperation to avoid probe but  Otti had during his inaugural speech asked all those who looted the state treasury to return every Government property or fund in their custody as he would not allow them go unpunished.

The West African Examination Council (WAEC), yesterday, appeared before the Ogun State Election Petition Tribunal without tendering a copy of Governor Dapo Abiodun’s certificate.

Ladi Adebutu, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the March 18 governorship election, had alleged that Abiodun forged his WAEC certificate.

WAEC had earlier been subpoenaed by the tribunal to produce a copy of Dapo Abiodun’s 1978 WAEC certificate as attached to the form he filled with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

In his petition, Adebutu stated that Abiodun “presented a forged West African Examinations Council School Certificate of June 1978 to the 1st Respondent” (INEC) on July 25, 2022.

The petitioner further stated that he had written a letter to WAEC to verify the authenticity of the said examination certificate presented by Abiodun to INEC.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday finally obeyed the Supreme Court directing it to recognise deregistered Youth Party (YP) as the 19th political party. In a statement by National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, the commission hinged the recognition on a result of rigorous judiciary processes.

The commission further noted that it has recognised YP as the 19th political party in Nigeria with all the rights and privileges accorded political parties in Nigeria.

“INEC met today, Thursday, and among other issues deliberated on the judgment delivered by the Supreme Court of Nigeria on the deregistration of the Youth Party (YP) as a political party.
“It will be recalled that the Youth Party (YP) was registered on 16th August 2018 by virtue of the judgment of the Federal High Court delivered on October 16, 2017.

“Following the commission’s decision to deregister some parties in accordance with Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Youth Party approached the Federal High Court and secured an Order restraining the commission from deregistering it.

The National Executive Council (NEC) has agreed on palliative measures for Nigerians through a cash transfer programme that will be immediately implemented by the federal, state, and local governments toward ameliorating the suffering of the poorest of the poor in the country.

This is coming because of the recent hike in petrol prices to up to N617/litre resulting from the removal of the petrol subsidy. The decision was reached on Thursday at a meeting held at the Council Chambers of the State House in Abuja.

NEC while considering integrity tests on national social registers noted that it will be reviewed at the state level to ensure cash transfers reach the most vulnerable in the society who do not have access to bank accounts.

The council has also suggested a six-month cash award policy for public servants to ease their living and transportation expenses while urging Governors to reduce the cost of governance in their various states.

The Governor of Bauchi said food items including grains and fertilizers are to be distributed by state governments at a subsidized rate or no cost after it is received from the Central Bank of Nigeria, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

The Federal Government had said it will review the plan for a monthly N8,000 transfer to 12 million of the poorest households in the country for six months in a bid to cushion the effects of the removal of fuel subsidy following the backlash it generated among Nigerians.

The National Executive Council (NEC) has agreed on palliative measures for Nigerians through a cash transfer programme that will be immediately implemented by the federal, state, and local governments toward ameliorating the suffering of the poorest of the poor in the country.

This is coming because of the recent hike in petrol prices to up to N617/litre resulting from the removal of the petrol subsidy. The decision was reached on Thursday at a meeting held at the Council Chambers of the State House in Abuja.

NEC while considering integrity tests on national social registers noted that it will be reviewed at the state level to ensure cash transfers reach the most vulnerable in the society who do not have access to bank accounts.

The council has also suggested a six-month cash award policy for public servants to ease their living and transportation expenses while urging Governors to reduce the cost of governance in their various states.

The Governor of Bauchi said food items including grains and fertilizers are to be distributed by state governments at a subsidized rate or no cost after it is received from the Central Bank of Nigeria, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

The Federal Government had said it will review the plan for a monthly N8,000 transfer to 12 million of the poorest households in the country for six months in a bid to cushion the effects of the removal of fuel subsidy following the backlash it generated among Nigerians.

The National Executive Council (NEC) has agreed on palliative measures for Nigerians through a cash transfer programme that will be immediately implemented by the federal, state, and local governments toward ameliorating the suffering of the poorest of the poor in the country.

This is coming because of the recent hike in petrol prices to up to N617/litre resulting from the removal of the petrol subsidy. The decision was reached on Thursday at a meeting held at the Council Chambers of the State House in Abuja.

NEC while considering integrity tests on national social registers noted that it will be reviewed at the state level to ensure cash transfers reach the most vulnerable in the society who do not have access to bank accounts. The council has also suggested a six-month cash award policy for public servants to ease their living and transportation expenses while urging Governors to reduce the cost of governance in their various states.

The Governor of Bauchi said food items including grains and fertilizers are to be distributed by state governments at a subsidized rate or no cost after it is received from the Central Bank of Nigeria, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

The Federal Government had said it will review the plan for a monthly N8,000 transfer to 12 million of the poorest households in the country for six months in a bid to cushion the effects of the removal of fuel subsidy following the backlash it generated among Nigerians.