Civil rights advocacy group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, (HURIWA), yesterday backed the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to reject the proposed 40% electricity tariff hike by the federal government, effective July 1, 2023.
HURIWA, in a statement by its national coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, described the plan as satanic and anti-people, saying the administration of President Bola Tinubu was unfeeling and totally detached to the suffering of over 130 million multi dimensionally poor Nigerians.
The group said the Tinubu government, with its not-well-thought-out policies, may plunge more people into multi-dimensional poverty before the end of its first year.
On Monday, the federal government dropped a hint at removing the N50 billion monthly electricity subsidy in the sector, citing revenue shortfall.
This is coming weeks after the removal of petrol subsidy which now has skyrocketed prices of commodities, increased transport cost by over 200%, pushed up food prices by over 100% and generally made life unbearable for many Nigerians.
A report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed that Nigeria’s inflation rate for May 2023 rose to 22.41% from 22.22% recorded in April, no thanks to subsidy removal without palliatives and viable cum cheap alternatives to cushion its effect.
Onwubiko said; “The administration of President Bola Tinubu should let the poor breathe as all the policies of the federal government are apparently targeted at the poor. For instance, despite the removal of fuel subsidy, governors, senators and government officials are still going around with convoys while over 130 million multi dimensionally poor Nigerians have resorted to trekking long distances as they can no longer afford fares for commercial transportation as a result of the skyrocketing prices of petrol.
“We reject the proposed hike in electricity tariff and any increment that will further aggravate the suffering of the common man. If it cannot help the poor and bring them out of poverty, the Tinubu government should at least not suffocate them and let the poor breathe.”
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