The total amount of electricity tariff subsidy shortfall borne by the Federal Government in 2024 reached ₦1,949 billion.

This figure, based on data from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission’s 2024 Annual Report, resulted from electricity tariffs that were set below cost-reflective levels for the year under review.

To bridge the gap between actual cost-reflective tariffs and the approved ones, NERC stated that the government provided tariff shortfall funding totaling ₦1,949.17 billion in 2024.

However, the report did not clarify whether the Federal Government had already disbursed this subsidy amount.

An in-depth look at the data reveals that in Q1 2024, the Federal Government incurred ₦633 billion in gross tariff shortfalls. In Q2, the amount dropped to ₦380 billion. By Q3, it rose again to ₦464 billion and further increased to ₦471 billion in Q4.

Meanwhile, electricity Distribution Companies recorded a significant 40 percent year-on-year increase in revenue for April 2025, with total billing amounting to ₦257.57 billion for the month.

During this period, electricity companies collected ₦199.85 billion in revenue, marking a notable increase in recent records, according to NERC.

Despite this collection milestone, the efficiency rate stood at 77.6 percent — an improvement from March’s 71.1 percent — but still not sufficient to meet the full liquidity demands of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry.

The surge in billing occurred even as total energy received by Discos declined to 2,622.46 gigawatt-hours, reflecting a 9.2 percent decrease compared to the previous month.

Out of that, 2,184.61 GWh were actually billed to customers — a 5.8 percent drop — indicating that the increase in revenue was driven primarily by higher tariffs rather than improved electricity supply. This especially affected Band A customers, who began paying cost-reflective rates of about ₦209 per kilowatt-hour after the April 2024 tariff revision, up from ₦66/kWh.

The new tariff structure, which significantly raised power costs for Band A customers, was designed to better reflect the actual cost of supply, lessen the government’s subsidy burden, and enhance investor confidence by improving cash flow for Discos and Gencos.

In Q1 2025, the power sector billed a total of ₦744.27 billion and collected ₦553.63 billion, leading to a quarterly collection efficiency of 74.4 percent, slightly lower than the 77.4 percent recorded in Q4 2024.

From January to April 2025, total billing climbed to around ₦1.02 trillion, while unrecovered revenue amounted to ₦260 billion. This reflects ongoing issues with consumer payments, rising energy poverty, and inconsistent service levels.

A key concern remains the Aggregate Technical, Commercial, and Collection (ATC&C) losses, which averaged 39.6 percent in Q1 2025. This is nearly double the MYTO target of 20.5 percent, resulting in estimated losses of ₦200.5 billion.

In April, Eko Disco achieved full revenue collection, totaling ₦38.7 billion — a 28.82 percent increase. Ikeja Disco brought in ₦34.68 billion, marking a 6.1 percent rise, while Abuja Disco earned ₦30.27 billion, reflecting a 4.3 percent decline.

Two men who were found guilty of the “deliberate and mindless” act of cutting down one of the UK’s most treasured trees will learn on Tuesday whether they will receive prison sentences.

In May, a jury at Newcastle Crown Court found Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers, who were formerly friends, guilty of criminal damage for felling the tree at Sycamore Gap in 2023.

The tree, which had stood close to Hadrian’s Wall in northern England for nearly two centuries, was notable enough to be featured in the 1991 Hollywood film “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves”.

A look back at the Sycamore Gap tree cutting in September 2023 shows how the case, now at the sentencing stage in a Newcastle court, captured national attention.

They were found guilty of two charges: one for destroying the sycamore and another for damaging the Roman wall, which was hit when the tree collapsed.

The court is scheduled to sentence them on Tuesday. They could face up to 10 years in prison. The session is expected to begin at 11:00 am (1000 GMT).

Following the verdict, the National Trust said the “needless felling” had “shocked people around the country and overseas”.

A spokesperson mentioned that the loss was felt most in northeast England, where the tree held deep emotional and cultural significance for many.

Moronic mission

A review of the September 2023 Sycamore Gap tree incident reveals that two men are now awaiting sentencing for destroying one of the UK’s most well-known trees.

Prosecutor Richard Wright explained that the two drove to the area near Hexham in Graham’s Range Rover on the night of September 27, 2023, and cut down the tree using a chainsaw within minutes.

He added that once the tree was down, the men got back in the vehicle and drove back to Carlisle, where they lived.

The prosecution stated that they jointly caused £622,191 worth of damage to the tree and an additional £1,144 in damage to Hadrian’s Wall, the Roman-era structure stretching across northern England.

The sycamore had become an iconic part of the region, drawing millions of visitors over time and being honored with the Tree of the Year award in 2016.

Authorities are now working to determine whether the tree can be regrown using its remaining stump or from its seeds.

According to the National Trust, which owns both the wall and the tree, 49 saplings have been cultivated from the sycamore’s seeds. These young trees will be planted across different UK locations this winter.

A piece of the felled tree, more than six feet long, now serves as the focal point of an art display located near where the original tree stood.

Visitors are invited to see and touch the remaining piece of the tree, and the space is meant to be one where people can come together, reflect, and remember.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has submitted an appeal in an effort to reverse a federal high court ruling that instructed the senate to lift the suspension placed on Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the senator representing Kogi Central.

The appeal, dated July 14, 2025, was lodged at the Abuja division of the court of appeal.

Akpabio is contesting the July 4 decision issued by Binta Nyako, which labelled Akpoti-Uduaghan’s six-month suspension as overreaching and a violation of her constituents’ rights to representation.

Although the court recognized the senate’s constitutional power to discipline its members, Nyako determined that the duration and severity of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension were excessive. Additionally, the court imposed a ₦5 million fine on the senator for contempt, pointing to a satirical Facebook post made during the trial that allegedly violated an existing restraining order.

In reaction, Akpoti-Uduaghan has lodged her own appeal, disputing the contempt ruling on the basis of jurisdiction. She claimed the court lacked authority to rule on a contempt matter involving actions that took place ex facie curiae — outside the courtroom.

Akpabio’s legal representatives also submitted a cross-appeal, questioning the federal high court’s jurisdiction. They argued that the issue pertains to internal legislative matters, which they believe fall outside judicial oversight as stated in Section 251 of the 1999 Constitution.

In his appeal containing 11 grounds, Akpabio criticised the lower court for dismissing his initial objection and issuing decisions that he believes encroach upon the legislative independence granted by the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act.

He argued that processes such as suspensions, statements made during plenary, and senate decisions should not be subject to court review. The appeal further stated that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s case was filed prematurely because she had not yet pursued resolution through the internal processes of the senate, especially through the committee on ethics, privileges, and public petitions, as outlined in the Senate Standing Orders (2023, as amended).

Akpabio also alleged that the trial judge denied him a fair hearing by introducing and deciding on matters such as the alleged excessiveness of the suspension without input from either party. He viewed this as a violation of the court’s impartial role.

Additionally, the appeal criticised the merging of interim reliefs with the main claims, which Akpabio’s legal team argued was a procedural error. They also maintained that the case should have been dismissed for not complying with Section 21 of the Legislative Houses Act, which requires a three-month notice to the clerk of the national assembly before initiating legal proceedings.

Akpabio is requesting that the appeal court accept his case, nullify the federal high court’s decision, and uphold the senate’s disciplinary action against Akpoti-Uduaghan.