The Osun civil society coalition on Friday staged a peaceful protest in Osogbo, the state capital over the latest hike in the fuel price and electricity tariff.
The protest which lasted for hours caused traffic gridlock as many residents and passersby joined the protest against what they described as the highest form of insensitivity of the government to the plight of its poor masses.
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The protesters lamented that the electricity distribution companies had failed in their responsibility to meter all households despite the outcry by the people even as they wondered how DisCos got the presidential backing to increase the tariff.
The protest was led by Comrade Waheed Saka, the Director of Program, Centre for Sustained Dialogue.
Saka described the dual approval of new electricity tariff and increment in pump price of petrol as the highest level of insensitivity and wickedness from President Muhammadu Buhari-led government.
According to him, “Everything about the new tariff regime speaks about how insensitive and wicked our leaders in this country have become even in a democracy.”
“How on earth will anybody happily approved a new tariff regime and increment in pump price of petrol at a time our people are still languishing in pains and pangs triggered by lockdown due to COVID-19 pandemic?”
However, the Chief Operating Officer (COO) Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), Engr. John Ayodele said the new Service Reflective Tariff (SRT) is commensurate and aligned with the quality and availability of power supply committed to each cluster of customers.
He explained that the review is critical to the provision of more efficient and reliable service to customers, upgrade aging infrastructure and be more responsive to the complaints of the customers.
He said “the new tariff plan will not only empower us to provide better service, but it will also promote fairness , we therefore appeal for the understanding and cooperation of our esteemed customers as we commence the implementation of the Service Reflective Tariff through prompt payment of electricity bills and vending, as we are resolutely committed to delivering improved and better service”
Ayodele said the tariff review will not affect customers experiencing an average power supply availability of less than 12 -hours per day over a period of one month.
