The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has condemned Power Minister Chief Adebayo Adelabu’s call for increased electricity tariffs, labeling his stance as insensitive and a leadership failure. In a statement, NANS Senate President Comrade Usman Adamu argued that repeated tariff hikes fail to address the core issues of Nigeria’s power crisis. NANS stated that at a time of economic hardship, inflation, stagnant wages, and unreliable power, it is “insensitive but an outright dereliction of duty” for the Minister to suggest tariff increases as the only solution to power sector inefficiencies.
NANS expressed deep concern that the Power Minister has oversimplified Nigeria’s power issues to just “tariff increases.” They criticized his approach, stating that if his only strategy is to hike tariffs, it shows “administrative inertia and cognitive bankruptcy.” NANS also accused the Minister of failing to hold electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) accountable for issues like estimated billing and poor service, citing violations of promised supply benchmarks. They demanded answers on reforms to hold DisCos accountable and a plan to stabilize the national grid.
NANS further questioned what efforts have been made to increase access to renewable energy, stating that instead of receiving answers, they are “bombarded with repetitive, anti-people pronouncements that show a complete disconnect from the realities of average Nigerians.” NANS concluded with a strong demand for performance, innovation, and vision from the Minister. They declared that Nigeria requires a “reformer, a strategist, a visionary,” not merely a “tariff enthusiast” in the Ministry of Power, and urged the Minister to “do the honourable thing and resign” if he cannot fulfill his responsibilities, rather than continuously suggesting tariff hikes as the sole solution.