The Senate has commenced an investigative hearing on the increase in the electricity tariff in 11 states in Nigeria.
At the ongoing meeting at the Senate wing National Assembly on Monday, the Red Chamber also stated that it would punish anyone or agency it found culpable of adding to the burden and sufferings of Nigerians.
Last week, the Senate through its committee on Power had invited the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, and the heads of agencies under the ministry to an investigative hearing on the new electricity tariffs.
The committee chairman, Senator Eyinnaya Ababribe had said that the Senate has already authorised an investigative hearing “scheduled for the 29th of April, 2024. The major agencies of the government will answer questions.”
He said, “We have summoned the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC). We will allow them to speak about the electricity tariff hike. The minister of power is, of course, expected to appear too.”
Speaking at the investigative hearing on Monday, the committee chairman stated the investigative hearing was hinged on two motions presented at plenary on Tuesday, 25 July 2023 and Wednesday, 21st February 2024 where the Senate by its resolutions mandated the Committee on Power to “engage with the Federal Ministry of Power, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission and other stakeholders.
Abaribe also said that the mandate of the committee was to find lasting solutions to the challenges facing the Nigerian Electricity Sector, including the need for “comprehensive sector reforms.”
