The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria has called on the Federal Government to stop categorising electricity consumers into different ‘bands,’ describing the system as discriminatory.
Currently, consumers are divided into Bands A to E, each receiving varying hours of electricity supply per day and being charged different rates.
Band A customers receive 20 hours of electricity, while those in Band B get 16 hours daily.
Band C consumers have 12 hours of electricity supply, eight hours for Band D, while Band E customers get only four hours per day.
There have been growing concerns about the inability of electricity distribution companies to meet the power supply targets, and the majority of members of the public are dissatisfied with the high tariffs.
Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, the Director-General of MAN, Segun Ajayi-Kadri, argued that the band system was unjust, as it didn’t take into account the income, household activities, and capacity of residents before placing them in a category.
Ajayi-Kadri stated that a more logical approach would be to charge electricity tariffs based on consumption.
He said, “You should not in any way seek to introduce a concept like Band A, which is discriminatory and not based on any scientific consideration. It is very subjective to simply designate an area as Band A without considering certain factors.
“If someone’s total consumption is lower than a certain threshold, that person is likely to be poor and should not be in Band A. Conversely, those with higher consumption should pay more,” he explained, advocating a more scientifically determined pricing structure.
He also emphasised the need for the government to consider the impact of the high electricity tariffs on industries, stating that businesses should be given some form of relief, particularly in light of Nigeria’s economic goals for 2025.
Ajayi-Kadri stressed the importance of prioritising electricity supply to sectors crucial to economic growth.
The DG called on the government to adjust the electricity tariffs and band system to ensure that they supported both consumers and businesses in Nigeria.
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