The Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER) has warned that electricity tariff reforms must take account of human welfare and not be treated as technical adjustments alone.
Speaking at a research seminar in Ibadan, the institute’s Director-General, Prof Antonia Simbine, said electricity is a “lifeline” for households and businesses, and that unaffordable pricing risks widening inequality.
“Large, high-input cost firms may show resilience, but small enterprises are being squeezed. For households, soaring energy bills are eroding disposable income. This is about livelihoods, industrial competitiveness, and Nigeria’s growth trajectory,” she said.
Prof Simbine urged policymakers and regulators to prioritise both affordability and reliability in the power sector, warning that reforms without balance would undermine economic growth. NISER’s findings show that most households and small businesses already struggle to pay electricity bills, forcing many to turn to alternative energy sources.
The comments come as Nigeria’s energy regulator implements new tariff bands, with consumers and business groups raising concerns about rising costs amid stagnant incomes. Prof Simbine said any adjustment must align with the paying capacity of consumers if reforms are to succeed.
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