Abuja – The Nigerian Electricity Consumers Advocacy Network (NECAN), says the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) is not sensitive to the plight of Nigerians on high electricity tariff.
Mr Tomi Akingbogun, the Committee Chairman of NECAN, made the statement while addressing newsmen on Thursday in Abuja.
He said that due to various complaints by many Nigerians about outrageous and unwarranted increase in electricity tariff, NECAN was set up and inaugurated by NERC, under the chairmanship of Dr Sam Amadi.
Akingbogun said that the rationale for setting up NECAN was to provide a structure platform for electricity consumers to be better organised, sensitised and constructively engaged in electricity decision making process.
“It is also to reduce the scope for conflicts in the sector by ensuring greater understanding and proactive engagement between operators and consumers.
“It is to increase transparency and accountability in the operation of the electricity sector.
“To also develop and implement a robust communication strategy to increase the voice and agency of electricity consumers in the sector,” Akingbogun said.
He said that the Terms of Reference for the development of the framework was given to them by NERC.
“We were given up to three months from April 27, to set up NECAN office, recruit staff, set up reliable advocacy network and contact in all the geographical zones of the country.
“We steered into action, had several meetings and process of registration and contact with all six geopolitical zones of Nigeria.
“All these were financed by the interim members on the premise that they will be refunded from promised fund from NERC.
“In the month of May, we updated NERC on our activities through a letter but got no reply.
Akingbogun said that the committee member later found out NERC decided not to support NECAN financially.
According to him, it was discovered that commissioners at NERC were not in support of NECAN and as such withdrew the financial commitment earlier promised by the commission.
He noted that the action by NERC would weaken electricity consumers and groups from checkmating the exploitation by electricity distribution.
Akingbogun said that it would also weaken the consumers from checkmating supply companies with draconian policies and unnecessary hike in electricity tariff.
“You will notice that the Distribution Companies (DISCOS) are going for the second increment of electricity tariff in six months with the permission of NERC.
“We will not relent because NECAN comprise of all electricity consumers including Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Hotels, small and large scale business operators and individuals in the country.
“If there are no groups to checkmate draconian policies of DISCOS, Nigerians will be exploited right under the nose of NERC,” Akingbogun said.
Akingbogun is also the President of Federation of Tourism Association of Nigeria (FTAN).
In his reaction, the Chairman of NERC, Dr Sam Amadi said that NECAN is just a group of people interested in the smooth running of the electricity sector.
Amadi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that a proposal was drafted and the commission said it would support them with training.
“ They came, we hosted them and gave them idea on proposal and affirmed that possible support could be mere grant just like any NGO.
“The commission met and concluded that its involvement will be wrong because as a regulator, the commission is not supposed to fund NECAN because it may manipulate and control them.
“But we can support them in the area of training just like any other stakeholders, no regulator goes out of its way to mobilise customers,” he said.
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Amadi said that NERC made a promise, adding that he was the one that wrote the terms of reference but the commission said it could not fund them. (NAN)
Mr Tomi Akingbogun, the Committee Chairman of NECAN, made the statement while addressing newsmen on Thursday in Abuja.
He said that due to various complaints by many Nigerians about outrageous and unwarranted increase in electricity tariff, NECAN was set up and inaugurated by NERC, under the chairmanship of Dr Sam Amadi.
Akingbogun said that the rationale for setting up NECAN was to provide a structure platform for electricity consumers to be better organised, sensitised and constructively engaged in electricity decision making process.
“It is also to reduce the scope for conflicts in the sector by ensuring greater understanding and proactive engagement between operators and consumers.
“It is to increase transparency and accountability in the operation of the electricity sector.
“To also develop and implement a robust communication strategy to increase the voice and agency of electricity consumers in the sector,” Akingbogun said.
He said that the Terms of Reference for the development of the framework was given to them by NERC.
“We were given up to three months from April 27, to set up NECAN office, recruit staff, set up reliable advocacy network and contact in all the geographical zones of the country.
“We steered into action, had several meetings and process of registration and contact with all six geopolitical zones of Nigeria.
“All these were financed by the interim members on the premise that they will be refunded from promised fund from NERC.
“In the month of May, we updated NERC on our activities through a letter but got no reply.
Akingbogun said that the committee member later found out NERC decided not to support NECAN financially.
According to him, it was discovered that commissioners at NERC were not in support of NECAN and as such withdrew the financial commitment earlier promised by the commission.
He noted that the action by NERC would weaken electricity consumers and groups from checkmating the exploitation by electricity distribution.
Akingbogun said that it would also weaken the consumers from checkmating supply companies with draconian policies and unnecessary hike in electricity tariff.
“You will notice that the Distribution Companies (DISCOS) are going for the second increment of electricity tariff in six months with the permission of NERC.
“We will not relent because NECAN comprise of all electricity consumers including Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Hotels, small and large scale business operators and individuals in the country.
“If there are no groups to checkmate draconian policies of DISCOS, Nigerians will be exploited right under the nose of NERC,” Akingbogun said.
Akingbogun is also the President of Federation of Tourism Association of Nigeria (FTAN).
In his reaction, the Chairman of NERC, Dr Sam Amadi said that NECAN is just a group of people interested in the smooth running of the electricity sector.
Amadi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that a proposal was drafted and the commission said it would support them with training.
“ They came, we hosted them and gave them idea on proposal and affirmed that possible support could be mere grant just like any NGO.
“The commission met and concluded that its involvement will be wrong because as a regulator, the commission is not supposed to fund NECAN because it may manipulate and control them.
“But we can support them in the area of training just like any other stakeholders, no regulator goes out of its way to mobilise customers,” he said.
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Amadi said that NERC made a promise, adding that he was the one that wrote the terms of reference but the commission said it could not fund them. (NAN)