The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) says it will not pay the new electricity tariff because of its negative effect on its members’ production costs.
In an exclusive with Wazobia FM, Kano, the chairman of the Kano and Jigawa branch of MAN, Muhammad Bello Isiaku, alleged that the hike did not follow the proper guidelines set by the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission.
Isiaku said the sudden electricity tariff hike has caused many manufacturers to close down, despite the little drop in inflation.
“It’s only natural, whether you like it or not, once inflation goes down, give it a month or two, everything will definitely go down. But all of a sudden, there’s this new increase, and it will reflect on our cost of production, this month and the following month,” he said.
“Even the big manufacturers, a lot of them have closed down because the market is not willing to accept our new prices.”
On 2 April, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) approved a 240 percent increase in tariffs charged by power distribution companies (DisCos).
Prices jumped from N68 to N225 per Kilowatt-hour for Band A customers. Customers on other bands will continue to pay N68.
