Lawrence Nwimo, Awka
Former Chairman/CEO, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Dr Sam Amadi, has criticised the band categorisation of electricity consumers in Nigeria, describing it as both illegal and unconstitutional.
Delivering a keynote during the April Ikengaonline Townhall meeting themed: “New Electricity Tariffs and the Power Crisis in Nigeria,” the law and energy expert criticised the new system of power allocation by the power distribution companies.
According to him, the use of band categorisation has given room for discrimination and unfair differentiation in the distribution of power in the country.
His said: “This band categorisation is arguably unconstitutional. The constitution provides both section 14 of chapter 2 and section 40 of chapter 4 and even the electricity Act, section 116 provide that nobody would be discriminated in access to electricity.
“So, if they allocate minimum of 20 hours to some people when power availability has not been increased, it means 20 hours light to some people and others mere few hours.”
According to Amadi, “The only way there can be differentiation in consumption is through pricing. If you increase the price of a product, an individual can stand down based on fair differentiation not targeted at any class. But the way it is, the tariff is unconstitutional and will force energy poverty on a section of Nigerians.
“There is no increase in general power and there is nowhere more power will come. So, if they are allocating more power to A in order for them to pay more tariffs, it means they are going to take power away from B, C and D so as to serve band A.”
