Why BEDC MD 'Puts Up Boastful, Arrogant Attitude' In Response To Complaints, Protests - Group

Benin City - The Edo Civil Society Organizations (EDOCSO), an umbrella body of civil society groups in Edo state has called on the Director General of the Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE), Mr Alex Okoh to "disqualify" himself as a member of the management board of Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC).

Edo CSOs also called on Mr Okoh to be ready for "the battle and struggle for the emancipation of the people" soon if he fails to resign his position from the board.

The activists in statement issued over the weekend in Benin asserted the Director General of BPE acting as a member of the management board alleged was why the Managing Director of BEDC, Funke Osibodu is insensitive to the plight of electricity consumers in their franchise area.

BPE is the agency of federal government charged with the overall responsibility of implementing the Nigerian policy on privatisation and commercialisation.

According to the group, "for over four years running, Edo, Delta, Ondo and Ekiti state residents have been groaning under the poor and oppressive services of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) without steps in addressing same.

"It will interest us to know that, the Director General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises also doubles as a management board member of the BEDC. This is a major reason Funke Osibodu has become so full of herself, arrogant and boastful", the group stated

The activists argued that while the BEDC board is expected to have a representative of BPE as an eye of the Federal Government, the Director General should not be the representative as he will be acting in dual capacity.

Responding, the company's Head of Corporate Affairs, Mt Tayo Adekunle stated Mr Okoh is a member in the boards of all the electricity distribution companies.

Mr Adekunle added, the membership of Mr Okoh in the board has nothing to do the company's managing director, Mrs Osibodu.

"By virtue of federal government ownership of 40% shares in the Discos, Alex Okoh is not only in the management board of BEDC, but also in the other Discos", He said via a telephone chat.

Meanwhile, efforts to reach BPE was unsuccessful as at the time of filing this report.


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