Femi Falana, a prominent human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, has voiced strong opposition to the Federal Government’s plan to raise electricity tariffs. He argued that citizens should not bear the financial burden caused by long-standing policy failures within the power industry.
During a discussion with media representatives in Ilawe-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Falana emphasized that the government needs to prioritize reliable, constant power delivery before contemplating any price adjustments. He reminded officials of the commitments made by President Bola Tinubu during his election campaign, stating that the public is entitled to consistent service instead of higher costs for inadequate performance.
The legal expert also challenged the administration’s stance on privatized distribution companies. He asserted that the government cannot evade its responsibilities to the public after handing over the sector to private entities. Falana highlighted concerns regarding potential conflicts of interest, noting that some owners of these firms share personal connections with government personnel. He cautioned that these associations must not provide immunity from oversight.
Should the existing privatization model continue to produce poor results, Falana suggested that the government consider reasserting control or exploring nationalization to protect the interests of the populace. He concluded by urging authorities to concentrate on strengthening the entire infrastructure of generation, transmission, and distribution rather than simply increasing the fiscal load on consumers.
