The Minister of Power, Mr Saleh Mamman, has directed the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to inform all Electricity Distribution Companies (DISCOs) to revert to tariffs that were applicable in December 2020.

Mr Aaron Artimas, Senior Special Adviser, Media and Communications to the Minister of Power, made the disclosure in a statement he released in Abuja on Thursday.

He said that the reversal to the old tariff was to promote a constructive conclusion of the dialogue with the Labour Centres (through the Joint Ad-Hoc Committee).

The minister spoke against the backdrop of the report that electricity tariff had been increased by 50 per cent

He said the reports are inaccurate and falsehood capable of causing confusion in the country.

On the contrary, the minister said Government has continued to fully subsidize 55 per cent of on-grid consumers in bands D and E and maintain the lifeline tariff for the poor and underprivileged.

Mamman said that these measures were all aimed at cushioning the effects of the pandemic while providing more targeted interventions for citizens.

He said that the public was aware that the Federal Government and the Labour Centres had been engaged in positive discussions about the electricity sector through a Joint Ad-hoc Committee which he said had made progress in its deliberations which are set to be concluded at the end of January.

The minister stated that it should be cleared that the regulator must be allowed to perform its function without undue interference adding that Government role was not to set tariffs, but to provide policy guidance and enabling environment for the regulator to protect consumers and for investors to engage directly with consumers.