Gusau – The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) on Friday opened a new forum office in Gusau, Zamfara to hear and resolve customers’ electricity complaints in the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the forum comprises representatives from Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce Industry, Mining and Agriculture (NACCIMA).
Others are Consumer Protection Council (CPC), Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) and Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE).
The office was commissioned by the former state governor of the state and senator representing Zamfara West Constituency, Senator Ahmad Sani-Yarima.
Gov. Abdul’aziz Yari commended the commission for establishing the forum office in the state which he described as a timely and welcome development.
Yari represented by his Chief of Staff, Alhaji Albdulkarim Tsafe urged the Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) to improve electricity supply to the people of the state.
He said that the office would improve electricity services in the state and with the forum, the customers would be able to present their complaints on any problems affecting them.
According to him, the state government will cooperate with all stakeholders to ensure the success of the office.
Earlier, the Commissioner of Consumer Affairs Division of the NERC, Mr Moses Arigu said that the commission had the mandate to ensure that all Nigerians had optimal access to electricity services and provided with adequate supply “that is affordable and reliable’’.
“One of the major responsibilities of the commission is to ensure that there is fairness in regulatory for all stakeholders in accordance with the Electricity Power Sector Reform Act (EPSR), 2005.’’
He said that the forum was the body charged by the commission to hear and resolve customers’ complaints affecting electricity customers in the state.
Mr Majo Bashaka, the Chief Operations Officer, KEDCO described the forum office as welcome development as it would improve the relationship between the electricity suppliers and the public.
He decried poor collection of tariffs by KEDCO in the state due to habit of non payment of electricity bills by members of the public.
NAN reports that the former governor, Yarima was also represented by the chief of staff to the governor at the occasion.
