The Federal Government has said that about 85 per cent of Nigerians still enjoy the electricity subsidy in the country, despite the over 1 trillion naira that would be saved from the fresh tariff hike.

It stated this in response to the continued reactions from Nigerians over the increment in electricity tariff recently announced for Band A customers by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, MOHAMMED IDRIS said 85 per cent of the Nigerian population who fall under different categorisations of the new electricity supply regime still enjoy the subsidy.

According to the minister, the unequal amount of electricity subsidy, approximately 40 per cent, was benefiting only about 15 per cent of the electricity consumer population, comprising affluent individuals and industrial clusters, who enjoy about 20 hours of electricity.

IDRIS further stated that the new Electricity Act, signed by President BOLA TINUBU, had strengthened the governance structure of the NERC, and empowered the agency to place severe sanctions on electricity distribution companies for violations relating to billings and supply of electricity to consumers.