Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, has said that the House of Representatives would take action on the recent increase in energy rates when plenary resumes later this month.
It should be noted that when the electrical authorities announced the development, there was an immediate outcry, raising concerns that it would exacerbate the country’s economic misery.
Speaking virtually on the special edition of “Ben Kalu’s Mandate,” a call-in radio programme of FLO FM, Umuahia, Abia State, on Monday, the deputy speaker stated that the parliament, in response to Nigerians’ calls for its intervention in the matter, will take a win-win approach to resolving the issues involved.
According to his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Levinus Nwabughiogu, Kalu’s answer was prompted by a query from a call-in listener, Okafor Chinedum of Umuahia, who wanted to know the parliament’s view on the issue.
“It’s a general problem. While I was on my holidays, one of the things I was bothered with was a letter sent to me by the majority leader of the House on the need for us to intervene in a matter involving the University of Ibadan Teaching Hospital power supply. They were disconnected because of this hike and they don’t have the money to pay. We said it’s an essential service. Something should be done about it while we look at other details.
“I can assure you that when we resume, it’s one of the things we are going to look into. We will look at the both sides of the coin to know a win-win approach to it because we cannot suffocate also the investors, and also we cannot allow Nigerians to suffer unduly. So, it is one of the things we will look at by the time we resume and we will find a way to solving it,” the Deputy Speaker stated.
cc: Daily Post Ng
