Drama unfolded at the National Assembly on Monday as power supply abruptly ceased during the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu’s speech.
Adelabu was addressing senators during an investigative hearing organized by the Senate Committee on Power, focusing on the need to halt the increase in electricity prices.
Amidst the minister’s remarks, the power outage occurred, briefly halting proceedings before electricity was restored within minutes.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Power, Eyinnaya Abaribe, highlighted the significance of the interruption, suggesting it mirrored the challenges faced nationwide. He emphasized that even top officials, including the President, encounter such issues, albeit silently.
The disruption comes amidst the backdrop of the Federal Government’s recent approval of a 340% increase in electricity tariffs for customers classified under Band A. This decision by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has sparked controversy, especially among customers who will be affected by the hike.
Band A customers, enjoying 20 hours of daily electricity supply, represent 15% of Nigeria’s 12 million electricity consumers. NERC’s Vice Chairman, Musliu Oseni, clarified that the tariff revision would not impact customers in other bands.
The Senate’s summoning of the Minister aimed to address concerns regarding the recent tariff increase and to seek justification for its implementation.
