BIG STORY

FG, NLC Kick Against Proposed September 1st Electricity Tariff Hike

Published

3 years ago

August 30, 2021

The Federal Government and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Sunday kicked against the nod given to electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to hike tariffs for Wednesday.

According to them, the go-ahead is against the recommendations of the technical committee on electricity tariffs.

Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo said the technical committee which he heads was not contacted by NERC.

The NLC Deputy President Joe Ajaero urged Nigerians to rise against another tariff hike by the DisCos.

The committee had recommended the sustainability of subsidy on electricity tariffs till December. It also called on NERC to avoid phased changes in tariffs.

There was a report at the weekend that the NERC has directed the 11 DisCos to raise their tariff from Wednesday.

The commission in a letter titled: “Tariff increase notification” gave the energy distributors the leverage to charge a service-based tariff.

A statement credited to the Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) said the increase will be reflected on the energy bill for October. The bill will cover energy consumption for September,” it stated.

But, hours later, the EKEDC in a statement by its Managing Director, Mr. Adeoye Fadeyibi, described the earlier release as unsubstantiated. He urged customers to disregard all such reports.

Keyamo said yesterday: “We have not been officially communicated to by NERC. If and when they do, we will take it from there. We will look at it when they communicate to us.”

Ajaero, who is also the general secretary of, National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), said the NERC and the DisCos already had a blueprint prepared by the technical committee on power tariff hikes.

Describing the power market as dictatorial, the NLC deputy president added that it will take the collective resolve of Nigerians to change the blueprint adopted by NERC and the DisCos.

He said: “There was no issue of increase in electricity tariffs in the committee discussion? Even forming the committee was like regret to them (government)

“What we found out during the committee’s work was that NERC already had a blueprint with the DisCos which they are implementing with or without anybody. It will take the collective resolve of Nigerians to change it.

“Before now, it was like we were opposing it and we were labeled when we said that the privatization of the electricity sector would lead to an increase in tariffs. That is what we are seeing; that is what is happening.

“It (planned increment) is not the job of the committee (on electricity tariffs). This is the job of NERC. They believe that nobody can stop them and that whatever they want, they will do. It is an unfair market. The normal market will involve the buyers and sellers haggling and negotiating on a price.

“This market is so dictatorial. The earlier Nigerians decided on what to do. It is either they accept the market as it is presently composed or constituted or insist that it should be properly constituted where the buyer is a king and seller should also be a king.

“This one (increment) requires everybody to be involved; everybody must say something. All the while, it has been the issue of the workers in the sector and the employers. They always tell us that if the sector is not making enough money it will affect jobs. We are at the center of this.

“There is a need for a third force which has to do with Nigerians and nobody will tell them that they don’t have the right to decide what they should pay or the services they should receive. They (Nigerians) can’t keep quiet or abdicate their responsibilities to the representatives of workers.”

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BIG STORY

BREAKING: Nigerian Activist Dele Farotimi Sent To Prison 24 Hours After Arrest

Published

4 hours ago

December 4, 2024

PorscheClassy News

Human rights activist Dele Farotimi has been incarcerated following his arrest in Lagos yesterday.

Farotimi was apprehended and quickly transferred to Ekiti State over allegations of defamation, based on a petition filed by Aare Afe Babalola, SAN.

Babalola accused Farotimi of defaming him in a video that criticized corruption within the judiciary.

Omoyele Sowore later provided an update on Twitter, confirming that Farotimi had been swiftly prosecuted and imprisoned after being denied bail by a judge in Ado Ekiti, who was allegedly pre-arranged to handle the case in this manner.

Sowore expressed his dissatisfaction with the situation, stating, “The Nigerian justice system is whack, as expected @DeleFarotimi has been hurriedly prosecuted and sent to prison after being denied bail by a judge in Ado Ekiti pre-arranged to do the same.”

He further criticized the coordinated effort, claiming, “The Nigerian Police, Chief Afe Babalola SAN, and the judicial officers had it all planned out even before they sent the goons from Ekiti state command RRS (formerly SARS) to abduct him.” The case is now adjourned until December 10, 2024. Sowore concluded by emphasizing his frustration, calling for significant change: “#RevolutionNow, I mean it. Nigeria is overdue for a REVOLUTION!”

More to come…

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BIG STORY

NAFDAC Arrests 3, Seizes N180m Worth Of Fake Alcoholic Drinks, Empty Bottles, Packaging Materials In Lagos

Published

5 hours ago

December 4, 2024

PorscheClassy News

Officials of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) have confiscated fake alcoholic drinks worth over ₦180 million in Lagos.

The agency made this known in a statement on its X (formerly Twitter) account on Tuesday.

It revealed that the products were intercepted following a raid on a makeshift factory in Oke Arin market, Lagos Island.

According to NAFDAC, the operation was carried out after a complaint about the illegal production of alcoholic beverages.

NAFDAC has raided a makeshift factory in Oke Arin market, Lagos Island, following a complaint about the illegal production of alcoholic beverages.

Three men were apprehended and various counterfeit alcoholic drinks, empty bottles, and packaging materials were seized. pic.twitter.com/278mDeNFxR

— NAFDAC NIGERIA (@NafdacAgency) December 3, 2024

According to the statement, three men were arrested in the process, with several fake drinks seized also.

“The products, valued at over ₦180 million, included fake versions of popular brands. The main suspect, Mr. Tochukwu Henry, confessed to refilling bottles labelled as Rémy Martin with ST-Rémy contents and employing two others to assist in the illicit operation,” the agency said.

“NAFDAC has raided a makeshift factory in Oke Arin market, Lagos Island, following a complaint about the illegal production of alcoholic beverages.

“Three men were apprehended and various counterfeit alcoholic drinks, empty bottles, and packaging materials were seized.”

It stated that “all suspects are currently in custody for further investigation,” calling on the “public to remain vigilant, especially during the festive season, and to report suspicious activities and products to the nearest NAFDAC office.”

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BIG STORY

“I Have No Property In My Name In Nigeria, No Billions Of Naira In My Account” — Pastor Bolaji Idowu Speaks On Police Invitation [VIDEO]

Published

5 hours ago

December 4, 2024

PorscheClassy News

The founder of Harvesters International, Pastor Bolaji Idowu, has denied the allegations that he was involved in a real estate fraud and that billions of naira were deposited into his church account.

As a result of these accusations, he was arrested yesterday but was released later in the evening after the intervention of influential figures in the country.

Addressing the matter this morning during Next Level Prayers, Bolaji Idowu clarified that he owns no property in Nigeria and has never been involved in selling any property in the country, rendering the real estate fraud claim baseless.

Regarding the allegation of receiving billions of naira in his account, Bolaji Idowu emphasized that his bank accounts are public, and anyone can verify them to confirm that the claim is untrue.

‘’Over the last 24 hours, there has been a lot of news about me on the social media. I heard I was involved in real estate, number one, I don’t have any property in Nigeria…I don’t sell, I am not in that line of business, someone said I received billions of naira in my account, my accounts are public accounts and you can go and check if I have ever received billions in my account because I didn’t.”