President Goodluck Jonathan

Jethro Ibileke/Benin

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President Goodluck Jonathan’s announcement of 50 percent reduction of electricity tariff has elicited knocks and negative criticism for him, rather than kudos, with the Organized Private Sector (OPS) and Civil society organizations in Edo State describing it as politically motivated and geared towards winning the forthcoming elections.

Those who reacted to the tariff reduction said it will not have economic benefits on the lives of the Nigeria masses. They contended that the major challenge of electricity consumers besides inadequate power supply, was the contentious issue of N750 monthly fixed charges imposed on consumers by the electricity distribution companies.

President of Benin Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (BENCCIMA), Andy Edobor, while commenting on the issue, said the federal government came up with the 50 per cent reduction of tariff on electricity when it was obvious that they will lose the presidential elections.

“The federal government’s action is political and it now dawned on the government that they will lose the general elections that is why they are now doing everything possible to woo Nigerians.

“For businessmen, it is a welcome development and for the masses it is of no use without regular power supply as well as not extended to the fixed charges.

“Private charges for investors cost between N100, 000 to N200, 000 and their electricity consumption monthly is not more than N20,000. And I want to ask what is the rationale for the exorbitant payment for electricity when they did not consume up to that amount?,” Edobor asked.

The BENCCIMA President however added that after due consultation, the body will come for a press conference to let the federal government know that the electricity rate and lack of power supply is really crippling industries in the country.

Also commenting on the tariff reduction, the state chairman of the National Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASS), Noma Iguisi, said the association was at loss as to what categories of the charges the 50 per cent reduction of the electricity tariff affected.

He said the national leadership of the body has been discussing with the federal government on the need to reduce the N14 per unit of electricity tariff and scrap the N31 per unit that is also charged.

Iguisi said the body would not make any commendation statement not until the federal government make full clarification of the tariff rate of between N14 and N31.

Also reacting, Tony Abolo, a Media Consultant said both the N87 per litre of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) announced recently by the Government and the 50 percent reduction of tariff of electricity were all gimmicks by President Jonathan to woo electorate to their favour.

According to him, the Greek offers to Nigerians were tactics of the 60s and 80s, adding “that Nigerians are today more enlightened and informed to make their own independent decisions.”