The Senate has expressed strong opposition to the proposed plans by the Ministry of Power to increase electricity tariffs and remove subsidies from electricity, considering the current economic challenges facing the nation.

This stance was reached following the Senate's deliberation and approval of a motion presented by Senator Aminu Abbas (PDP, Adamawa Central) during a plenary session. The motion emphasized the necessity of maintaining subsidies on electricity in Nigeria for the foreseeable future.

Last week, Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu disclosed during a press conference in Abuja that sustaining the current electricity subsidy in Nigeria would be challenging. He cited the substantial indebtedness of the country's power sector to electricity-generating and gas companies, amounting to over N3 trillion.

Adelabu further explained that a significant portion of the debt, approximately 60%, was owed to gas suppliers, with a legacy debt existing before 2014 amounting to $1.3 billion, equivalent to close to N2 trillion at the current exchange rate.

The Senate's spokesperson, Yemi Adraamodu, affirmed the Senate's stance, asserting that any increase in electricity prices would exacerbate the challenges faced by Nigerians and would not be tolerated.