Atiku Pledges to Replace Electricity Tariff Bands as APC Defends Tinubu’s Record
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has pledged to replace Nigeria’s five-band electricity tariff system if elected president, saying consumers need affordable bills and greater accountability for power supplied.
In a November 1 statement issued through Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said he would work with state governments and regulators, within the law, to introduce a fairer and more transparent framework.
The proposal followed the All Progressives Congress campaign council’s defence of President Bola Tinubu’s electricity record. Atiku argued that legislation, financial interventions and project announcements should be judged by their effect on electricity supply to homes and businesses.
Replacement Plan Leaves Pricing Questions Open
Atiku criticised the existing tariff bands, saying consumers continued to face unreliable electricity despite paying different rates.
He said his proposed framework would protect households and hold electricity companies accountable for the service delivered. The statement did not set out a replacement tariff formula, implementation timetable or funding plan.
The pledge is a campaign proposal and does not change current electricity tariffs or customers’ service classifications.
APC Cites Reforms and Investment Measures
In its earlier statement, issued through spokesperson Dele Alake, the APC campaign council argued that Tinubu’s electricity promise should be assessed in full context.
The council said the pledge included an undertaking to explain any failure to deliver before seeking re-election. It acknowledged that work on the sector remained unfinished.
The APC cited the Electricity Act 2023, metering programmes, state electricity-market reforms, infrastructure projects and measures to settle legacy debts as evidence of the administration’s efforts.
Atiku disputed that defence, arguing that policy and financial commitments should translate into reliable electricity for consumers.
What the Electricity Bands Mean
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission describes service-based tariffs as a system linking electricity charges to service levels measured by daily supply hours.
NERC’s published minimum daily supply benchmarks are 20 hours for Band A, 16 hours for Band B, 12 hours for Band C, eight hours for Band D and four hours for Band E.
Those benchmarks do not confirm the hours every customer actually receives. NERC says the scheme began in November 2020, before Tinubu took office.
Atiku’s statement did not explain how the proposed framework would fund electricity supply, protect household budgets or enforce service standards.