5th September, 2015
Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress in Yobe, Alhaji Lawan Ibrahim, has described as “unjustifiable” the call for increase in electricity tariff by the Yola Electricity Distribution Company (Yola Disco).
Speaking on Saturday in Damaturu at a consultation forum with consumers,the chairman noted that even the current tariff needed to be reviewed downward.
He advised the company to place emphasis on the provision of prepaid meters to customers, instead of advocating for increase in tariff.
According to him, the prepaid meters will enable customers pay for exactly what they consume.
Earlier in his remark at the forum, the Yola Disco Company Secretary and Head of Regulatory Affairs, Alhaji Bala Mohammed, had advocated for an upward review of electricity tariff.
According to him, an upward review will help sustain the current tempo in electricity generation and distribution.
Mohammed said that the forum was to sensitize consumers on the challenges they were facing in distributing electricity to consumers.
“We are glad that electricity supply has improved in recent times but adequate tariffs must be paid to sustain the current tempo,” he said.
The secretary said if the current power supply was maintained, government and private individuals could establish cottage industries to generate employment opportunities for the people.
He stressed that except bills were adequately paid and illegal connections avoided, the efforts to provide adequate power supply would be fruitless.
The Emir of Fika and chairman Yobe Council of Chiefs, Alhaji Muhammadu Abbali, urged electricity consumers in the state, to pay their bills regularly.
Represented by Alhaji Baba Hardo, the emir also advised the electricity company to take measures against its employees who encouraged corruption in the system.