*Says unless President moves against “evil” aggreement, problem will remain
The new electricity tariff increase cannot be blamed on the current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari but on the past Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s government led by Goodluck Jonathan.
This defence was contained in a comment by a Nigeria’s public affairs commentator, Mr. Frank Ofili, which he posted on a WhatsApp platform monitored by The DEFENDER.
Ofili threw more light as he explained why Nigerians should rather blame the problem on past PDP administration than to wrongly blame it on the current Buhari-led All Progressives Congress government.
To him, there is wisdom in the attitude of President Buhari not allowing the country face a similar embarrassment suffered by PI&D for not honouring vital agreement.
He wondered why people always do not bother to ask questions before they come in the public to criticise government without justifications.
He said, “I don’t know why most people don’t bother to get facts before reacting emotionally, and sometimes shooting themselves on the foot. Or may be they have the facts but choose to look the other way, just so that they would blame Buhari.
“Buhari government did not cause the recent increase in electricity tariff. PDP government under President Jonathan did when it signed the Multi Year Tariff Order (MYTO) 2015. The agreement covers the period 1st January 2015 to 31st December 2024.
“It is in the implementation of the MYTO 2015 signed by Jonathan government that this latest increase comes, as agreed.
“If this government refuses to honour the agreement, something close to the PI&D saga would happen. The DISCOs would sue the Federal Government, and the government would be liable to pay billions, perhaps trillions for breach of agreement.
“And for your information, the tariff increase is not over yet.
“So if anybody has any blame to apportion, they should lay it squarely on the last PDP government. Below is the directive by NERC in 2015 for the commencement of the MYTO.
“This is one of the reasons, I keep maintaining that the greatest fraud happening in Nigeria today is in the Power sector. It is a fraud orchestrated by PDP administration, and it is not over yet unless Buhari administration summons the courage to repudiate the agreement and in deed, the entire power sector privatization, and damn the consequences,” Frank Ofili said.
He then gave copy of a notice by NERC in the past to justify his claim that the new tariff now is product if the past as put in place handcuffing Nigeria’s system by Jonathan and PDP before they were sacked from power in 2015.
Read the notice below:
Notice of Commencement of MYTO 2015
Public Notice of Commencement of Multi Year Tariff Order (MYTO) for the period 1st January 2015 to December 2024 to all the distribution companies, generation companies, the Transmission Company of Nigeria and all stakeholders.
In exercise of the powers conferred upon it by Section 76(6) of the Electric Power Sector Reform Act 2005 and all other powers enabling it in that behalf, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission hereby gives notice of commencement of Multi Year Tariff Order (MYTO) for the period January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2024, to the Distribution Companies, the Generation Companies, the Transmission Company of Nigeria and all Stakeholders.
Signed:
Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission
Adamawa Plaza, Plot 1099 First Avenue
Central business District, Abuja, FCT
https://nerc.gov.ng/index.php/media-library/public-notices/326-notice-of-commencement-of-myto-2015#:~:text=Public%20Notice%20of%20Commencement%20of,of%20Nigeria%20and%20all%20stakeholders.&text=MYTO%202015%20Transmission%20Company%20Of%20Nigeria%20Tariff%20Order.
