Sequel to the suit brought against the Federal Government at the Federal High Court in Lagos, challenging the 45 percent hike in electricity tariff, Justice Mohammed Idris, has fixed Friday, July 8, to deliver the final judgment.
It could be recalled, that the former Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, Sam Amadi, had in May 2015, implemented a hike in electricity tariff.
In reaction, a Lagos-based lawyer, Toluwani Adebiyi, instituted a legal action, praying the court to serve an injunction, stopping the regulatory body from sporadically increasing the tariff.
The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, on assumption of office, had defended the 45 percent increment, insisting that it was the way forward to achieve uninterrupted power supply in the country, as it is a bitter pill every Nigerian should swallow.
Post-Nigeria gathered that since the increment, activities in the sector have become even worse.
With Nigerians forced to cough out more money for darkness and incompetence, there are strong indications that the Federal Government might suffer a major setback in defending the case, as it’s aftermath effect since it’s introduction, have proved counterproductive.
The plaintiff, Adebiyi, was reported to have also prayed the court to stop any hike in electricity tariff, until there has been a meaningful and significant improvement in power supply, to at least 18 hours in a day, in most Nigerian communities.
Justice Idris, had since May 28, 2015, restrained the NERC from giving effect to the proposed hike, pending the determination of the suit. However, the Federal Government did not obey the court order, as it has since implemented the 45 percent hike in tariff, despite legal experts consistently accusing the Federal Government of disobeying court orders, and thereby, testing the might of the Judiciary.
Post-Nigeria had further reported, that since the assumption of Fashola as Minister of Power, Nigeria’s electricity supply to Households, Industries, Companies and Manufacturing organisations, has significantly dropped, with the nation experiencing black outs for weeks.
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