 Nigerian senators on Wednesday unanimously kicked against plans to increase electricity tariff, describing the move as retrogressive and ill-timed. The opportunity of mayor also mandated its committee on power to investigate the over two trillion subsidy requirements alleged by the Minister of Power Adebayo Adelebu. After a robust debate on the motion by Senator representing Adamawa Central, Iyabaz, at Wednesday's plenary, the lawmakers urged the federal government to immediately stand down the idea of an increase in electricity tariff in the country. In his lead debate, Senator Abbas explained that the indebtedness of the country's power sector to electricity generating companies and gas companies had risen to over three trillion naira. A Senate should note, with the greatest dismay, the plan to increase electricity tariff by delivering statutory authority engrossed disregard of increased economic challenges with attendant widespread poverty and high costs of living. The Senate might note that the Honourable Minister of Power was reported trillion needed for subsidy, only $415 billion was budgeted for in 2024. The Senate might further note that the same electricity businesses are collecting money from customers for services not rendered. When they have not added anything to the equipment they inherited from PHCN, communities buy transformers to replace damaged ones, in addition to overboding bills and obituary estimates. Contributing to the motion, Senator Abba Moro, representing Benway South, said Nigeria must first be sufficient in generation and distribution of power before considering an increase in tariff. I think our concern for this moment should be how to generate electricity and effectively, adequately distribute electricity. Most of the problems that we are having today, especially in the manufacturing sector of the economy, is as a result of low power. And many organizations and companies are relocating from Nigeria simply because they don't have energy to drive their organizations. And so, Mr. President, I support this motion and I want to say that this Senate should resolve again, like the Senate did in the Ninth Senate, that the desire to raise electricity should be put on hold until the distribution of electricity is adequate and proper. Mr. President, let me also say that this issue of subsidy remover has become a very serious matter and we must very careful how we handle it. In view of the prevailing situation in our dear country, we all do not need anybody to tell us what the situation in the country is all about. The populace are facing untold hardships and the situation in the country is anything but normal. And removal of any subsidy, not talk of electricity subsidy, will be more than adding petrol to fire. The situation in the country do not allow for even a contemplation of that. And most importantly, thank the distinguished colleagues for their contributions and opposition to the idea of increasing electricity this time due to the current cause of things across the country and the sufferings of people and Nigerians are very worried about the following increases in the products across the country and urge the Committee on Power to work closely with the Minister of Power to ensure that the resolutions of the Senate are respected in order to ameliorate and reduce any contemplated suffering on consumers of electricity in the country. Hello, hope you enjoyed the news. Please do subscribe to our YouTube channel and don't forget to hit the notification button so you get notified about fresh news updates.