Femi Falana Accuses Minister of Power of Implementing IMF, World Bank Agenda with Electricity Tariff Hike
Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has accused the Minister of Power of acting in line with the directives of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank following the recent hike in electricity tariffs.
In a statement issued on Monday, Falana criticized the minister’s actions, alleging that they align with the agenda of the IMF and the World Bank, which advocate for the removal of subsidies on essential services and the commercialization of social services.
Falana stated, “The Honourable Minister of Power is acting the script of the IMF and the World Bank. Those two agencies insisted and they continue to insist that the government of Nigeria must remove all subsidies.”
He further emphasized that the neoliberal policies of these institutions prioritize commercialization and pricing of essential services beyond the reach of the majority of Nigerians, including fuel and electricity subsidies.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria also denounced the double standards of Western countries, particularly the United States of America, highlighting their practice of providing subsidies for agriculture, energy, and fuel, as well as offering grants and loans to needy students.
Falana pointed out the contradiction in advising the Nigerian government against implementing similar measures for its people while practicing such policies themselves.
The remarks by Falana underscore growing concerns over the impact of IMF and World Bank policies on Nigeria’s economic landscape and the welfare of its citizens.
