Electricity tariff hike: Court dismisses manufacturers’ suit against NERC, Kano Disco
Federal High Court sitting in Kano has dismissed a suit brought filed by the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, MAN, challenging the recent electricity tariff hike by Kano Electricity Distribution Company, KEDCO.
The hike was approved by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC.
Sani Bala Sani, Head, of Corporate Communication at KEDCO disclosed this in a statement on Monday.
Recall that in May 2024, aggrieved electricity customers, alongside MAN, Nigeria Association of Small-Scale Industrialists (Kano State Chapter), Tofa Textile Limited, Dala Foods Nig. Ltd., Mama Sannu Ind. Ltd., BBY Super Sack Ltd., and Super Sack Co. Ltd, dragged KEDCO and NERC to court seeking to stop the implementation of Supplementary Order on Band A tariff increase.
In his judgment on 19th July 2024, the presiding Judge, Justice Simon Amobeda, said the suit lacked merit and therefore dismissed it without any cost.
He further adjudged that contrary to the arguments of the plaintiffs, the April 2024 Supplementary Order was validly made under the Multi-year Tariff Order (MYTO) 2024, in compliance with the provisions of Section 116 (6), (7), (8), (9) and (10) of the Electricity Act.
Following the judgment, KEDCO called for reconciliation with aggrieved customers for the growth of the country’s power sector.
This comes after Discos across the country increased electricity tariffs on April 3 and July 2024, despite calls for reversal by the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress.
