Increase in electricity tariffs, fuel price amid COVID-19, counterproductive – AAN

Etim Ekpimah

ActionAid Nigeria has said that the increase in electricity tariffs by almost 100 per cent and that of fuel price amid the COVID-19 pandemic, is not only ill-timed, but it is also counterproductive.

The AAN, however, called for the reversal of the fuel price and electricity tariff, and requested that metres be provided for all electricity consumers. The body added that the gains made on poverty eradication by President Muhammadu Buhari and other stakeholders like ActionAid Nigeria have been eroded due to monumental inflation.

This was contained in a press statement issued by the Board of Trustees of ActionAid Nigeria, after a virtual meeting, which was then made available to journalists by the Communications Director, Lola Ayanda to review the state of the nation on Saturday night.

“The increase in electricity tariff and hike in fuel price has eroded the purchasing power of Nigerians. We recommend the reversal of the fuel price and electricity tariff, and request that meters be provided for all electricity consumers. The gains made on poverty eradication by the President and other stakeholders like ActionAid Nigeria are being eroded drastically because of monumental inflation,” the statement noted.

Other issues considered during the virtual meeting are: “Lack of proper accountability mechanism for the Police Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS and responsiveness of government over the years metamorphosed into a force associated with harassment of innocent citizens, extortion at gunpoint, and extrajudicial killings of suspects, innocent Nigerians and foreigners. This also snowballed into ENDSARS protests across the country with violent and devastating consequences.

“The Federal Government and ASUU’s prolonged failure to reach a mutual agreement invariably strengthens the decay in education to the disadvantage of the entire country. The unimplemented 2009 FGN/ASUU agreement remains a setback.

“ASUU kicked against the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System (IPPIS), because it undermines university autonomy and is grossly incompatible with the university system.‎ The University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) which it believes is fraud and corruption-proof is at the final stage of integrity test.

“Going back to initiate a new platform which offers a similar service is perceived as both a waste of time and resources. The continued strike is not unconnected to the increasing youth restiveness witnessed in the country.

“The Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 has made some strides in terms of combating the dreaded coronavirus but the country’s limited testing capacity and inconsistent contact tracing remains a major concern.  There has also been a troubling uptick in mystery cases which health experts believe raise more questions.

“The hike in electricity tariffs by almost 100% as well as the fuel price increase coming amid the COVID-19 pandemic, is not only ill-timed, but it is also counterproductive. The privatization of the electricity sub-sector seven years down the line has not yielded the anticipated positive results.”

According to the statement, through the privatization process, the entire sector was sold at about N400 billion. The statement added that AAN is surprised that government within the last four years injected N1.5 trillion over and above the amount that accrued from the asset, noting that Nigerians are still being made to pay more.

Other issues include: “Since the COVID-19 lockdown, a wave of rape and other forms of Sexual Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) has increased. Since the commencement of lockdowns, reported cases of gender-based violence have substantially risen with a monthly increase of 149% in 23 out of the 36 states in Nigeria where we could obtain data on SGBV. Despite this, till date, only 17 out of 36 states and the FCT have passed the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act in Nigeria.

“Regardless of claims of increased security measures by federal authorities, an atmosphere of insecurity persists across Nigeria. Increasing attacks are being reported in the northeast including reports of fresh attacks in Chibok, home of the Chibok girls who are yet to fully return home 6 years after their abduction, with 112 girls still missing.

“The attempts by the Federal Government to encourage local farmers and food producers over imports is commendable, however Nigeria is currently dealing with the twin crises of flooding and food shortage. This is threatening to push Nigeria into a devastating food crisis.”

The AAN recommended that Federal Government should provide definite timelines for government’s response to youths’ demands.

It added that the move can be kickstarted with investigations of the incident that transpired at Lekki Toll gate massacre, noting that those, who ordered the shooting, as well as the officers, who fired at peaceful protesters punished openly.

The ActionAidNigeria stated also that those, who sponsored hoodlums to disrupt the peaceful protests, attacked their fellow citizens and destroyed property must be identified and made to face the wrath of the law to pass a clear message that elites should desist from using young Nigerians for political gain.

The AAN, therefore, called on the Federal Government to ask the Central Bank to unfreeze the accounts of EndSARS promoters immediately.

“We call on the Federal Government to rethink its stand on the IPPIS and pay the salaries of ASUU members and implement the FGN/ASUU agreement. What education needs now is for government to declare a state of emergency to re-build it.

“This re-building should start with proper funding on everything about education. Proper funding will ensure that the children of the poor, who cannot afford the prohibitive cost paid in private universities or do not have opportunities to study outside Nigeria, get quality education, which is not priced beyond their reach.

“We implore the Federal Government and sub-national governments to investigate the other myriads of problems raised with the outset of COVID-19, with a view to resolving all pending issues so as to maintain industrial harmony and avoid needless sufferings and death of Nigerians. It will also be an opportunity to strengthen our under-funded health facilities.

“Sexual Gender Based Violence response services should be a basic and accessible service in every state of Nigeria. The minimum standards for prevention and response to SGBV in emergencies should be institutionalised. The foundational standards will help states engage communities better, support national systems, and collect data for effective utilization.

“The mitigation, prevention, and response standards will enable states to ensure access to reproductive health services for SGBV survivors, including clinical management of rape, distribution of dignity kits, and effective referral systems  to facilitate access to psychosocial support, safety and security, justice and legal aid, and socio-economic support; while the coordination and operational standards will enable states conduct SGBV assessment, coordination, advocacy and communications, and secure human and financial resources in emergencies,” the statement added.

According to the statement, the AAN urged the Federal Government to continue to engage with key international actors including the United Nations, United States and the United Kingdom in providing support for the Nigerian forces & Multi-national Joint Task Force, MJTF in countering and ending insurgency in the Northeast. In addition, Nigeria should consider looking inwards for its own solution to end the growing insecurity in the country.

The AAN warned that for the country to avert the looming food crisis, financial inclusiveness should be encouraged through increased access to low interest credit by the small-scale farmers, especially smallholder women farmers who produce over 70 per cent of food consumed in the country.