The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu has been commended for his decision to ensure free distribution of meters to Nigerian electricity consumers.
In a statement on Tuesday and signed by its officials, Fred Ojinika and Mr Tunde Olaoye, the Nigerian Human Rights Community, (NHRC) a coalition of 130 civil society and community based groups across the country, established in 2003 said the decision of the Minister was in the best interest of Nigerians. The Minister of Power, Adelabu had said that the meters were procured under the World Bank-funded Distribution Sector Recovery Programme and must be installed for consumers free. Eventhough the meters were expected to be free, DISCOs continue to extort between 200,000 to 350,000 from Nigerians are fees for meters
Describing the statement as the ‘best new year gift’, of the Minister, the coalition said the pronouncement of the Minister has received full support from the civil society, industrialists and all electricity users. ‘The decision is in favour of energy consumers. Some of the DISCOs are notorious for incompetence, greed and economic rape of the people. The Minister has taken the right decision. It helps democracy and economic justice in Nigeria.’ The rights coalition said DISCOs often claim the meters are free but would ask for between 250,000 to 350,000 for the meter to be connected to their system.
The group said its offices across the country are inundated with complaints of exploitation and deliberate destruction of meters either through intentional power surges of physical damage in order to force electricity consumers to direct electricity billing.
‘The Minister has set a good standard. We condemn the action of the DISCOs. It is a deliberate attempt to exploit Nigerians and destroy the industrial foundation of the country. We urge Nigerians to rise up and defend their rights,’ the NHRC said.
The coalition said only few of the DISCOs mean well for Nigerians. ‘Ikeja Electric and many of them are out for primitive accumulation of wealth. They are not partners in progress of Nigeria. Many of them are obstacles to the progress of Nigeria. At present, they are indirectly instigating the Nigerians masses against the Federal Government through arbitrary billing and imposition of cut-throat tariffs on Nigerians. This has forced many Nigerians to abandon electricity for either solar, lantern or even candles. Even those who use electricity are afraid to put on their fans, security lights and other relevant equipment in their homes.
The Nigerian Human Rights Community, (NHRC) said it is ready to mobilise Nigerians against DISCOs by occupying their offices through mass action to compel them to respect the dignity of Nigerians.
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