Reps threaten power sector laws repeal over consumer’s complaints

The House of Representative has said it would not hesitate to repeal and re-enact or amend some sections of the laws that govern the power industry after listening to the complaints of consumers of electricity nationwide

Isreal Ajibola Famurewa disclosed this yesterday in  Lagos  while presiding over a meeting organised between electricity consumers  and  electricity distribution  companies and other stakeholders in  the south west zone  of the  country.

 Isreal Famurewa who is the chairman, Adhoc committee on complaints by electricity consumers said that the House of Representative has been under immense pressure to act against the   electricity distribution companies because of complaints arising from given crazy bill or estimated bills, refusal to meter consumers and manipulation of installation of meters in their areas of operations.

According to him, the meeting is starting from because of  the   unique position of the  state which harbours two electricity distribution companies and the fact that it is the gate way  to  international transactions and   that any   information gathered  from Lagos could  be taking as good  representative of  the   general   situation  in the  industry.

 He said the House has received a lot of complaints from their  constituents, Nigerians complaining  about the poor services  being rendered by  the  electricity  distribution  companies across the country, adding  that  it  has gotten to a stage  that if the  house  does  intervene consumers it may  lead to  breaking of law and order.

 He said the House in its wisdom constituted the committee to interface with consumers,Disco and the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) so that  lasting solution can be found in resolving the lingering problems in the sector.

 He said at the end of the exercise which will take them to the six geopolitical zones in the country a report would be presented to the committee of the whole House.  “We are going to look at the laws that guide the sector holistically so that if need be to repeal some law and re-enact we would do, if need to amend some laws, we would do”.

 Atleas we are representative of the people and we must protect their interest and also make sure their right is adequately protected

At the meeting the general consensus of the consumers was that the Discos should make available either prepaid meters or functional analogue meters to everybody and stop given consumers crazy bill