The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has vowed that customers who do not currently have access to 20 hours of electricity will not be charged the new tariff.
He made the pledge while appearing before the Senate Committee on Power for a one-day investigative hearing on Monday.
He emphasized the need to halt the proposed electricity tariff hike by 11 successor electricity distribution companies, given the harsh economic realities in Nigeria.
Adelabu added that the government had implemented a new policy to rescue the struggling sector, assuring Nigerians that the hardships would be temporary.
This clarification arises as electricity consumers contend with the recent tariff hikes imposed by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
Additionally, the Minister mentioned that if the tariff remained unchanged, the Federal Government would allocate ₦2.9 trillion to subsidize electricity expenses this year.
Furthermore, he noted the government’s concern and emphasized the introduction of the new policy as a measure to salvage the sector.
The development follows NERC’s recent tariff hike for Band A consumers, raising their tariff from ₦68/KWh to ₦225/KWh.
Band A customers receive 20-24 hours of electricity daily, while Band B subscribers enjoy 16-20 hours, and Band C customers receive 12-16 hours daily.