Political economist and former presidential candidate, Professor Pat Utomi, has called on the Federal Government to revisit and potentially scrap the Band A electricity tariff structure, describing it as exploitative and economically senseless.
Speaking at a news briefing by The Big Tent in Lagos on Monday, Utomi said the current tariff regime under Band A was worsening the financial strain on many Nigerians, especially salaried workers and the middle class.
“A university professor in Band A spends up to 75 percent of his salary on electricity alone,” Utomi said. “This is not just unsustainable, it is reckless. If not reviewed quickly, it will push more people into poverty.”
Band A is a service-based electricity billing category that guarantees at least 20 hours of power supply daily, but at a significantly higher cost. It is regulated by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission.
Utomi warned that the policy risks deepening inequality. “The system must be revalidated or scrapped outright. It serves private interest, not the public.”
He also criticised the National Assembly for neglecting urgent reforms in favour of endless oversight functions.
“Legislation must take priority,” he said. “We should not be approaching the 2027 elections with a broken constitution. Electoral reforms, security amendments, and land tenure restructuring should already be in place.”
Utomi backed a decentralised policing model, stressing that Nigeria must allow communities and states to run their own security outfits alongside federal forces.
“That’s the fastest way to confront the growing insecurity,” he said. “People in rural areas are suffering. Farmers can’t farm. Crime is everywhere. We must act.”
On the economy, Utomi argued that without land registry reforms, collateral access for farmers and rural entrepreneurs would remain limited, stifling agricultural growth.
“We need working land registries. Land must hold real value that can be converted to capital,” he said.
He also called for universities to support agricultural extension services to help smallholder farmers increase yields and access modern methods.
Utomi concluded by urging the government to revisit abandoned ideas like the Forest Rangers scheme once proposed under former Agriculture Minister Audu Ogbeh.
“Security isn’t just about guns. It’s about fighting poverty. Poor people are easy targets for terror groups. If we deal with poverty seriously, we reduce insecurity,” he said.
He warned against voter apathy ahead of future elections, blaming the current political culture for public disinterest.
“People are tired of being used. We need political engagement that restores trust and participation in the electoral process.”
