The Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors, ANED, on Sunday in Kano, pleaded with organized labour to shelve its planned protest over electricity tariff increase on Monday.
The Nigerian Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria are getting ready for a nationwide protest tomorrow, Monday, as well as picketing of electricity distribution and generation companies over the 45 per cent increase in electricity tariffs, effective February 1, 2016.
A statement issued by the Executive Director, Research and Advocacy of ANED, Sunday Oduntan, urged the NLC and TUC to support the power sector operators to improve electricity supply in the country.
The statement urged Nigerians to also support the Federal Government and the power sector operators to ensure the sustenance of the sector.
It said that Nigeria was witnessing an all-time high 5,075 megawatts of electricity for the first time in the history of the nation’s power sector.
“This is a demonstration that the sector has the capacity to meet the country’s power needs.
“Power is a major requirement in the drive to grow the nation’s economy and improve quality of life.
“We believe that this is only the beginning and that we can accomplish much more improvement in the sector, if all the stakeholders work together in partnership.
“ANED and its members are sensitive to customers’ anxiety over the recent increase in electricity tariffs”, the statement said.
It said that customers should know that the increase in tariffs was necessary for improvement of electricity infrastructure that had suffered decades of neglect.
“The increase will help to mitigate the negative cash flow and revenue shortfalls that have bedevilled the sector”, the statement said.
(NAN)
