The Federal Government has clarified that there is no planned increase in electricity tariffs for grid-connected consumers across any service band.
To this end, it described the recent media reports suggesting otherwise as a misrepresentation of comments made by the Special Adviser to the President on Power Infrastructure in the Office of the Vice President, Sadiq Wanka.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Wanka said the reports had taken his remarks out of context, making it necessary to provide clarity on the government’s position regarding electricity tariffs and subsidy reforms.
He stated that the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration remains committed to protecting vulnerable households through continued tariff support and has no plan to remove subsidies for consumers outside the existing Band A category.
“There is no planned tariff hike for any grid consumer across any service band. Government remains committed to protecting vulnerable households through continued tariff support,” he said.
Wanka explained that his comments were made during a presentation at the Asharami Square 3.0 event held in Lagos on July 22, 2026, where he spoke on investment opportunities in Nigeria’s power sector and how ongoing reforms have created new opportunities across the electricity value chain.
According to him, his presentation merely reaffirmed the Federal Government’s tariff policy direction as contained in the National Integrated Electricity Policy, which was finalised in December 2024 and approved by the Federal Executive Council in May 2025.
He noted that the policy provides for a gradual transition to cost-reflective electricity tariffs, a process that has already been implemented for Band A electricity consumers.
Clarifying the government’s position on other customer categories, Wanka said, “For all other consumer bands, he was clear that there is no plan to remove subsidies. Rather, the government is exploring how to deliver value and support more efficiently.”
He said the administration is considering the use of the Power Consumer Assistance Fund (PCAF), established under the Electricity Act 2023, to ensure targeted subsidy delivery directly to vulnerable consumers.
According to him, the fund would enable subsidies to be credited through consumers’ electricity accounts or other identity-linked channels, thereby improving transparency while boosting investor confidence in the sector.
Wanka also acknowledged the role of the media in communicating government policies accurately, stressing that the administration values initiatives aimed at improving journalists’ understanding of complex policy issues.
“The administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR recognises the vital role journalists play in policy communication, which is why it supports platforms like Asharami Square, which has a stated aim of deepening journalists’ capacity to convey the full context of complex policy discussions to the public,” he said.
(The Whistler)
