Atiku critises Tinubu’s electricity tariff hike

Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President, has said that decision to hike electricity tariff by the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led federal Government will create strain difficulties for the citizens and increase inflationary pressures.

He said that it is time to review the privatization process that produced the DISCOs.

In addition, Atiku stated that the manufacturing sector will suffer likewise because of the new minimum wage, noting that they would have to pay more for petrol in addition to paying higher interest rates on their bank loans.

The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election, noted that President Tinubu’s men are pushing the economy into a deeper crisis, stressing that his reforms are without a human face.

Atiku personally signed a statement in which he stated that, as usual, the administration is implementing new reforms without providing enough notice or a sufficient post-reform plan to lessen the pain.

Atiku said; “The increase in electricity tariff comes at a time when Nigerian citizens are going through excruciating difficulties occasioned by the withdrawal of subsidy on PMS and floating of the domestic currency.

“The government has not successfully dealt with the pains associated with the implementation of those measures, and now this.

“It is important that we understand the root cause of the inefficiencies in the power sector before unleashing another dose of reforms. It is time to revisit the privatization exercise that produced the DISCOs.

“Tinubu must (a) ensure that these reforms are sequenced, (b) implement measures to mitigate the pain, and (c) hold the NERC responsible for ensuring improved service delivery,” he said.