The House of Representatives issued a directive on Tuesday, instructing the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to suspend the implementation of the proposed new electricity tariff for Band A customers.

The decision was reached during the plenary session of the lower legislative chamber, following the passage of a motion addressing significant public concerns raised about the impending tariff adjustment.

The motion was tabled by Nkemkanma Kama, a member representing the Labour Party (LP) from Ebonyi state.

Earlier, Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, had issued a warning, stating that Nigeria could face a complete blackout within the next three months if the proposed electricity tariff hike was not put into effect.

Adelabu made the announcement during an appearance before the Senate Committee on Power in Abuja, during an investigative hearing regarding the recent electricity tariff adjustment by NERC.

The Senate committee, under the leadership of Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, had rejected the new tariff regime.

Adelabu emphasized the critical need for tariff increases, cautioning that failure to implement the adjustment would result in a breakdown of the entire electricity sector.

He said, “The entire sector will be grounded if we don’t increase the tariff. With what we have now in the next three months, the entire country will be in darkness if we don’t increase tariffs.

“The increment will catapult us to the next level. We are also Nigerians, we are also feeling the impact.”

He said $10 billion yearly for the next ten years is needed to revive the nation’s power sector and nip in the bud the challenges bedevilling it.