22 February 2015, Abuja – Business groups in Abuja on Friday protested the hike in electricity tariff by the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company.
The groups, under the name Co-operative Business Societies of Abuja, in a protest letter signed by its Coordinator, Mrs Maricel Romero, said the increase would ruin business in the city.
They appealed to the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and the Federal Ministry of Power to intervene in the interest of the public.
“We are objecting to the sudden 58 per cent increase on the kilowatt rate from N22.08 to N35.03 for commercial power consumers in the FCT.
“According to the Multi-Year Tariff Order Guidelines of the NERC, the maximum stipulated increase for 2015 is five per cent.
“We are shaken by this blatant disregard of the commission’s guidelines and a total lack of interest in the well-being of businesses operating in the territory,” they stated.
The groups said many businesses had collapsed under the weight of the ever increasing cost of operating and harsh economic status.
“We are already struggling to keep our head above water as business groups, with the austere economic situation in the country at the moment.
“This increase will run our businesses down and have a negative impact on our stakeholders and by extension on the growth of Abuja.
“This is a protest and a passionate appeal to the NERC, the Federal Ministry of Power and all other concerned citizens to intervene in the interest of the general public,” they said