Electricity Tariff: President Buhari Sued By SERAP Over Failure To Reverse Hike

President Muhammadu Buhari has been sued by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) over failure to reverse the recent hike in electricity tariff.

Included in the suit as Respondents are the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), and the Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading Plc.

The suit was filed on Friday at the Federal High Court, Lagos, and marked FHC/L/CS/99/2023.

It seeks to compel President Buhari to instruct NERC to reverse "the unlawful, unjust and unreasonable increase in electricity tariff.”

SERAP also wants the court to make the president direct Malami and appropriate anti-corruption agencies to promptly investigate the spending of public funds as investments and bailouts to DisCos and GenCos since 2005.

“Regular and uninterrupted access to electricity is a fundamental human right.  

"Electricity is an essential public service but millions of Nigerians continue to pay the price for corruption in the electricity sector–staying in darkness.

"The increase in electricity tariff failed to follow due process of law.

"It is entirely inconsistent and incompatible with the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 [as amended], the Electric Power Sector Reform Act and the country’s international human rights obligations.

“The increase is unjustified, especially given the unreliable, inefficient and poor quality of electricity in the country.

"Millions of Nigerians continue to live in darkness despite the spending by governments of trillions of naira as investments and bailouts to electricity companies.

 “The Federal Government has a legal responsibility to ensure transparency and accountability in how the investments and bailouts to electricity companies are spent to reduce vulnerability to corruption and mismanagement", SERAP stated.