The Nigerian Senate during a brief plenary session today outrightly rejected the planned sharp increased in electricity tariff, stopping its implementation.

The Senate ordered the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), and the electricity distribution companies (DISCOs) to maintain the status quo in keeping with a subsisting court order on the issue. It also directed its committees on power and employment, labour and productivity to call a stakeholders meeting on the electricity tariff hike, which has been vehemently opposed by Nigerians.

The decision was taken following a heated debate after Senator Suleiman Nazif, representing Bauchi North, raised a Point of Order, based on the matter of urgent public importance of stopping the new electricity tariff.

Nazif, while leading the debate, noted that the electricity tariff must be kept where it is, saying “Nigerians cannot pay more for darkness.” He commended the country’s labour leaders for mobilising to fight against the increment.

The Senate, which resumed sitting today after two weeks break, however, adjourned for another week to give its committees working on the discredited 2016 federal budget more week to interact with government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) with a view to correcting the numerous errors in the budget.

•Photo shows the Senate in session.