The Chief Executive Officer, Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, Mr Babatunde Irukera, has opposed the proposed increase in electricity tariff.
![](https://thenigerialawyer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/SADR.jpeg")
![](https://thenigerialawyer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/TheNigerialawyer-WhatsApp-Channel1.jpg")
Irukera said it was inappropriate for electricity distribution companies to focus on tariff increase as the only way to increase efficiency.
He spoke at a public hearing on extraordinary tariff review application organised by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission in Lagos.
He noted that the Discos had identified low tariff, energy theft and metering as major factors responsible for some of the problems in the power sector.
He said, “If you are going to promote efficiency, the only way to promote it certainly cannot be by increasing tariffs. There is absolutely no question about the fact that increasing tariffs will not in itself necessarily promote efficiencies.
“So long as you have fewer people paying for what most use, you will not find a cost-reflective tariff. The answer cannot be burdening those few (who pay their bills) with more. What about metering? There is still a vast majority of bills that are paid today by estimation; 55 per cent of consumers are still unmetered.”
According to him, the distribution companies came to an understanding with the Bureau of Public Enterprises in 2015 that they would meter more aggressively.
“They said that over the next three years, they would meter approximately 4.5 million customers. And that gave us an annual target of about 1.6 million meters,” he said.
He noted that not much had been done by the Discos to bridge the metering gap.
“How can we even find a cost-reflective tariff when more than half of your collection is based on estimation or assumption? Every time there is a revenue shortfall, those who are not metered would pay for it. And that is why estimated billing has now become another word for arbitrary billing.”
The Commissioner, Finance and Management Services, NERC, Mr Nathan Shatti, who chaired the public hearing, said the commission received applications from the Discos for an extraordinary tariff review to enable them to make some investments and improve their services.
“As a commission, our business rules require we cannot just sit down in Abuja and make decision on those applications. We have to do public hearing, and the intention of the public hearing is to allow stakeholders and consumers in the industry to listen to the applications that the Discos made, and to critique, ask questions and make recommendations.”
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE FOR LAWYERS: A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE
Reimagine your practice with the power of AI “...this is the only Nigerian book I know of on the topic.” — Ohio Books Ltd
Authored by Ben Ijeoma Adigwe, Esq., ACIArb (UK), LL.M, Dip. in Artificial Intelligence, Director, Delta State Ministry of Justice, Asaba, Nigeria.
Bonus:
Get a FREE eBook titled “How to Use the AI in Legalpedia and Law Pavilion” with every purchase.
How to Order: 📞 Call, Text, or WhatsApp: 08034917063 | 07055285878 📧 Email: benadigwe1@gmail.com 🌐 Website: www.benadigwe.com
Ebook Version: Access directly online at: https://selar.com/prv626
________________________________________________________________________ The Law And Practice Of Redundancy In Nigeria: A Practitioner’s Guide, Authored By A Labour & Employment Law Expert Bimbo Atilola
_______________________________________________________________________
New Year Promo: Get Five Maritime Law Books For N150,000 — 63% Discount
The promotion, which commenced on January 8 and runs until February 8, 2026, offers five core maritime law books authored by Dr. Emeka Akabogu, SAN, ordinarily valued at N405,000, for just N150,000 — a 63% discount.
Interested buyers can place their orders through the following channels:
Phone: 0704 329 3271
Online Store: https://paystack.shop/aa-bookstore
Website: www.akabogulaw.com
______________________________________________________________________
