CSOs Takes Protests To Abuja, Insists Funke Osibudu, BEDC Must Go.




Abuja - Less than 3-Weeks after the Edo Civil Society Organization (EDOCSO) led other activists on a 4-Day protest in Benin city against alleged planned renewal of the operational license of Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) by Federal Government, the EDO CSO on Wednesday in Abuja commenced another round of protest.

EDOCSO, a network of civil society groups in Edo state led activists from Delta, Ekiti and Ondo on a protests to the Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE) and Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, and ) in Abuja where they reaffirmed their stance on BEDC to the Minister, Babatunde Fashola.

The activists carrying banners with their message of 'No to the renewal or extension' of BEDC licence informed the Minister of how the company is crippling business activities in it franchise States of Edo, Delta, Ondo and Ekiti with what they described as ‘special lines’ connected to individuals and institutions that pay huge amount monthly as Bills.

The group stated that the 'special lines' has negatively effected the economy of the franchise States, especially the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in these areas while "big businesses" owned by a few "enjoys" steady power supply.

"Funke Osibudu has deliberately strangulated the power sector in those areas against the power reform act agreement, against electricity distribution in her network area, and against the welfare of the people.

"As I speak there are communities in Ondo state who has been in darkness for 5 years and they rejoiced there was privatization but 5 years after their darkness has become worse like never before, so we think Funke Osibudu has no business with power distribution. What we are saying in summary is that Funke Osibudu and management team should go", the Coordinator General of EDO CSOs, Leftist Omobude Agho told Hon Fashola.

However, the former Lagos state governor who was earlier away at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting met the activists protesting at the 'Power House' where he appealed to addressed them inside the office building.

The Minister explained that the power value chain has been privatised, adding the Ministry can only come up with policies and oversights as the Nigeria Electricity Regulations Commission (NERC) is the institution saddled with the responsibility to regulate the sector.

"I have issued a policy to NERC to enforce the contracts (with DISCOs). The contract that they had is with the Bureau (BPE), and not the ministry."

Fashola, while expressing conviction that the power privatization "will work", asserted the federal government will review the performance of the DISCOs to ensure they performed according to contractual agreement.

On metering, Fashola explained that the Ministry has come up with a policy whereby (meter) distribution will not be in the hands of DISCOs but other private investors for easy access to electricity consumers.

According to the Minister who faulted DISCOs poor customers relations services, "State governors should work with the Ministry. We want where state governments can be eligible customers to take power directly from the power plants straight to their people."

Meanwhile, a top official in the ministry said the contract between the DISCOs and BPE is for 10-years, but will be reviewed after 5-years which the official disclosed shall be towards the end of December 2019.

The official who made this known before the arrival of the Minister added that the transaction resulted in 60% acquisition of the company and not a 5-years licence which He explained can only be retrieve (within the 10-years) upon compensation to the investors.

The Activists according to Leftist Agho will on Thursday take their protests to the National Headquarters of NERC to further press home their demand.



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