Electricity Tariff Hike: FG Acting IMF, World Bank Scripts – Falana
Following the hike in electricity tariff, Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has alleged that the Federal Government is working in the interest of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank.
The legal luminary stated this in an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday.
He said, “The Honourable Minister of Power is acting the script of the IMF and the World Bank.
READ: Accept Tariff Hike Or Face Total Blackout, FG Tells Nigerians
“Those two agencies insisted and they continue to insist that the government of Nigeria must remove all subsidies. Fuel subsidy, electricity subsidy and what have you; all social services must be commercialised and priced beyond the reach of the majority of Nigerians.
“So, the government cannot afford to protect the interest of Nigerians where you are implementing the neoliberal policies of the Bretton Wood institutions.”
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria accused Western countries led by the United States of America of double standards.
According to Falana, they subsidize agriculture, energy, and fuel and offer grants and loans to indigent students while they advise the Nigerian government against doing the same for its citizens.
Falana said neither the minister nor the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has justified the tariff increase.
He also noted that Nigerian law gives no room for discrimination against customers by grading them in different bands.
According to Falana, the government cannot ask Nigerians to pay differently for the same product even when what has been consistently served to them is darkness.
Falana, however, said that nothing will come out of the probe by the Senate, adding that the matter has to be taken to court so that the minister and the Attorney General of the Federation can defend the move.
