By Fatima Mohammed-Lawal
The Association of Hotel Owners Kwara State on Tuesday in Ilorin stage a protest against alleged outrageous electricity tariff hike by the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC).
Alhaji Dauda Akande, the President of the association alleged that in its recent upward review of its tariff, IBEDC outrageously and insensitively Increased the electricity tariff of its band A customers, under which many of the members fall, from N74 to N225 per unit.
“The company later effected a marginal downward review to N205 per unit. This afterthought marginal reduction is grossly inadequate and many of our businesses cannot survive this tariff hike under the prevailing economic situation of our country,” he said.
Akande pointed out that if IBEDC fails to effect a substantial downward review of its tariffs, many businesses would collapse and there would be inevitable job losses across the country.
According to him, this would only compound the current economic challenges of our dear country.
The association urge IBEDC to consider a substantial downward review of the electricity tariffs to prevent the imminent collapse of our businesses and job losses.
“We implore the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission to intervene without further delay to save our businesses and jobs,” he said.
In his response, Mr Amos Ajanaku, the Head of Forum, Ilorin, Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) told newsmen that the commission is aware of the grievances by the Hoteliers.
He stated that the Forum will forward the letter of grievances submitted by the association to the office Headquarters in Abuja.
Members of the association carried placards with some inscriptions reading: “Capital No, to electricity tariff by IBEDC”, “Prevent Job losses”, and “Reduce the tariff.
