By Sandra Kenneth
The Federal Government has officially refuted claims of an impending increase in electricity tariffs, clarifying that there are no plans to adjust rates upward for any category of grid consumers.
The clarification came in an official statement released on Saturday by Sadiq Wanka, Special Adviser to the President on Power Infrastructure in the Office of the Vice President. Wanka addressed recent media coverage, noting that reports had misrepresented statements he made during a public presentation earlier in the week.
“There is no planned tariff hike for any grid consumer across any service band,” Wanka said. “The government remains committed to protecting vulnerable households through continued tariff support.”
According to the statement, his initial comments—delivered July 22 at the Asharami Square 3.0 event in Lagos—focused on investment prospects within the power sector and the administration’s broader reform agenda, rather than immediate rate adjustments.
Wanka reiterated the government’s long-term framework under the National Integrated Electricity Policy, which was finalized in December 2024 and approved by the Federal Executive Council in May 2025. The policy outlines a gradual transition toward cost-reflective tariffs—a model already applied to “Band A” electricity consumers.
However, Wanka stressed that financial support for other customer categories will remain intact.
“For all other consumer bands, there is no plan to remove subsidies,” the statement emphasized. “Rather, the government is exploring how to deliver value and support more efficiently.”
To achieve this, the administration plans to leverage the Power Consumer Assistance Fund (PCAF), established under the Electricity Act 2023. The framework aims to direct targeted subsidies straight to vulnerable citizens via consumer electricity accounts or verified identity-linked systems, enhancing transparency and investor confidence.
Closing the statement, the presidency acknowledged the media’s critical role in public awareness, noting that President Bola Tinubu’s administration relies on responsible reporting to keep the nation accurately informed on key policy directions.
