Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has adjourned to July 8th 2024 for hearing of the preliminary objection and originating motion in a matter filed by the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, MAN against 11 DisCos and NERC, over electricity tariff increment.
SweetCrude Reports gathered that MAN in a suit number FHC/L/CS/881/2024 had dragged to court, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC and 11 DisCos in the country, namely Abuja Electricity Distribution Company Plc, Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company Plc, Eko Electricity Distribution Company Plc, Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company Plc.
Others are, Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company Plc, Kano Electricity Distribution Company Plc, Jos Electricity Distribution Company Plc, Benin Electricity Distribution Company Plc, Enugu Electricity Distribution Company Plc, Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company Plc, and Yola Electricity Distribution Company Plc.
MAN is praying the court to order the DisCos and NERC to allow the old electricity tariff to stay; this as the regulatory agency on April 3rd 2024 approved an increase in electricity tariff for customers under the Band A classification.
The court had on 10th June 2024 issued an interim order restraining all the electricity distribution companies, DisCos, in the country and the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC from increasing tariff and obligated the Plaintiff (MAN) to continue paying the old rate.
The court had also restrained all the DisCos (Respondents) from taking any further step including disconnection of power supply pending the determination of the Motion Interlocutory Injunction in the matter.
However, when the matter came up in court yesterday, there was a consensus application from all the DisCos urging the court to vacate its last order asking MAN’s members to pay the old rate pending the hearing and determination of MAN’s motion for interlocutory injunction.
The presiding judge, Justice A. Lewis Allagoa advised parties, especially the defendants that rather than bringing frivolous applications, they should focus on the main issue.
The judge offered to grant an accelerated hearing of the matter to reach conclusion before the vacation of the court in July if all the parties were willing to concur.
At the end of the day, all the parties present in court voted in favour of an accelerated hearing of the matter.
The Judge adjourned the matter to 8th July, 2024 for the hearing of the preliminary objection and MAN’s originating motion.
It will be recalled that on April 3rd 2024, NERC approved increment for customers under the Band A category, who receive 20 hours of electricity supply daily, to pay N225 per kilowatt.
Supporting the increment, the Minister of Power, Mr Adebayo Adelabu, said the federal government could no longer afford to pay subsidies on power anymore, hence the need for the tariff hike.
