Osun: Nigerians reject electricity tariff hike — SSANU OAU Chairman

The Chairman of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Dr. Taiwo Arobadi, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) branch, has stated that Nigerians are vehemently opposed to the recent electricity tariff hike.

In an interview with journalists on Monday in Ile-Ife, Arobadi emphasised that the masses are already struggling to make ends meet since the fuel subsidy was removed on May 29, 2023.

Arobadi revealed that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) had protested against the electricity tariff hike, and SSANU OAU had joined in the protest.

However, upon arriving at the head office of the Distribution Company (DisCo) in Ile-Ife, they found the gate locked.

The SSANU Chairman appealed to the Federal Government to reconsider the tariff hike and remove the increment, citing the need for a restructuring of the electricity sector. He emphasized that the current situation is causing undue hardship for Nigerians, and urgent action is required to address the issue.

“President Bola Tinubu should take one step after the other; doing everything at once is affecting Nigerians, civil servants are suffering and business men and women are not finding it easy.

“Masses are dying gradually, petrol is selling at the rate of between N850 and N950, by the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN).

“Meanwhile, major marketers like: BOVAB, Total, NIPCO, Matrix, Mobil are selling control price but one will spend the whole day before getting it.

“The price of foodstuffs and other goods in the markets are not affordable, so we are pleading with the government to soften things for the citizenry,” he said.