Protests: CSOs Storm NERC Headquarters, Reaffirm Stance On BEDC.
Abuja - The Edo Civil Society Organization (EDOCSO) alongside activists from Delta, Ekiti and Ondo States yesterday rounded off a 2-Day protests in the Federal Capital Territory where they stormed the Headquarters of Nigeria Electricity Regulations Commission (NERC) to demand the sack of the management team of Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC).
The activists who reaffirmed their stance on BEDC to NERC said the Funke Osibodu-led management has "no business with electricity distribution" due to "highhandedness" as well as failure to provide electricity for consumers after paying bills.
The Coordinator General of Edo CSOs, Leftist Omobude Agho said poor service delivery by the electricity distribution company "is killing SMEs" in the franchise states, hence many have resorted to criminality and other vices which he noted fuels insecurity in the area.
Leftist Agho who led the groups, emphatically told the NERC team that if "BEDC cannot go" according to contractual agreement entered into with the federal government, the management should be "Changed".
Also, an Activist, Akinsuroju Henry, faulted the nation's electricity regulatory body over it inability to sanction BEDC for flouting it directives to reconnect Ondo south which had been in darkness for more than 10-years back to the national grid.
"NERC gave several directives to BEDC to reconnect us (Ondo South) back to the National grid after many years, but BEDC disobeyed and NERC did not do anything", He told the commission's team led by Vice Chairman, Sanusi Garba.
Akinsuroju, a member the Bring Back Our Light (BBOL) group charged the commission to eschew corrupt practices, act according to their powers, and always be on the side of the people, a position reechoed by Leftist Agho.
Responding, Garba asserted that, BEDC as a utility have an obligation to serve "all" customers, and should not discriminate against any electricity consumer.
The Vice chairman who kicked against what the group described as "Special Lines", charged them to report cases of unfair treatment by the discos, assuring them of the commission's resolve to act on such report.
On the issue of estimated billings, Garba opined that it may take a "long time" to criminalize the practice due to judicial bottlenecks, hence before it becomes illegal, NERC is "putting a regulation in place" to protect electricity consumers from exploitation.
He said estimated billings is a "National issue", but however noted that, when the regulation is fully in place, "it will become a criminal offence when the Discos refused or failed to meter a consumer" within the regulation's guideline.
On the Performance Agreement entered in November, 2013 and
purported extension/renewal of the operational licence of VIGEO HOLDINGS LIMITED, the operators of BEDC, the NERC's number two man explained that "BEDC have a license to serve the area for 15-years", which shall be review next year.
According to him, "It's not an extension, the contract originally signed (in 2013) provided for just 5-years but the contracts starts counting after the first year (2014)", adding the commission can "only act" after December 31st 2019 as stated in the contract.
On the flouting of NERC's directives by the company, He told the BBOL group that "the issue of Ondo south has to do with enforcement. BEDC has not obeyed the orders of the commission and I want to assure you on behalf of the commission that immediately we leave here, we will dust up all the papers and we will make sure the right thing is done."
Meanwhile, in a press briefing recently in Benin city by BEDC, Osibodu called on electricity consumers to disregard the activists, adding the company deserve commendation for rendering efficient service as she promised to make metres available to it customers.
The activists who reaffirmed their stance on BEDC to NERC said the Funke Osibodu-led management has "no business with electricity distribution" due to "highhandedness" as well as failure to provide electricity for consumers after paying bills.
The Coordinator General of Edo CSOs, Leftist Omobude Agho said poor service delivery by the electricity distribution company "is killing SMEs" in the franchise states, hence many have resorted to criminality and other vices which he noted fuels insecurity in the area.
Leftist Agho who led the groups, emphatically told the NERC team that if "BEDC cannot go" according to contractual agreement entered into with the federal government, the management should be "Changed".
Also, an Activist, Akinsuroju Henry, faulted the nation's electricity regulatory body over it inability to sanction BEDC for flouting it directives to reconnect Ondo south which had been in darkness for more than 10-years back to the national grid.
"NERC gave several directives to BEDC to reconnect us (Ondo South) back to the National grid after many years, but BEDC disobeyed and NERC did not do anything", He told the commission's team led by Vice Chairman, Sanusi Garba.
Akinsuroju, a member the Bring Back Our Light (BBOL) group charged the commission to eschew corrupt practices, act according to their powers, and always be on the side of the people, a position reechoed by Leftist Agho.
Responding, Garba asserted that, BEDC as a utility have an obligation to serve "all" customers, and should not discriminate against any electricity consumer.
The Vice chairman who kicked against what the group described as "Special Lines", charged them to report cases of unfair treatment by the discos, assuring them of the commission's resolve to act on such report.
On the issue of estimated billings, Garba opined that it may take a "long time" to criminalize the practice due to judicial bottlenecks, hence before it becomes illegal, NERC is "putting a regulation in place" to protect electricity consumers from exploitation.
He said estimated billings is a "National issue", but however noted that, when the regulation is fully in place, "it will become a criminal offence when the Discos refused or failed to meter a consumer" within the regulation's guideline.
On the Performance Agreement entered in November, 2013 and
purported extension/renewal of the operational licence of VIGEO HOLDINGS LIMITED, the operators of BEDC, the NERC's number two man explained that "BEDC have a license to serve the area for 15-years", which shall be review next year.
According to him, "It's not an extension, the contract originally signed (in 2013) provided for just 5-years but the contracts starts counting after the first year (2014)", adding the commission can "only act" after December 31st 2019 as stated in the contract.
On the flouting of NERC's directives by the company, He told the BBOL group that "the issue of Ondo south has to do with enforcement. BEDC has not obeyed the orders of the commission and I want to assure you on behalf of the commission that immediately we leave here, we will dust up all the papers and we will make sure the right thing is done."
Meanwhile, in a press briefing recently in Benin city by BEDC, Osibodu called on electricity consumers to disregard the activists, adding the company deserve commendation for rendering efficient service as she promised to make metres available to it customers.
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