The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government of Nigeria to find a lasting solution to the issue of power distribution and supply across the country.
This was a sequel to a motion by a member from Akwa Ibom state Hon Idem Uyime on the Urgent Need for the House Intervention in the total Collapse of Power Supply to the Whole Nation.
The lawmaker observed that there was frequency and incessant interruption of power supply across the nation in the past weeks, disrupting businesses and the lives of Nigerians who are equally burdened with several tariff increments.
Hon Uyime said that though the Federal Government through the Transmission Company of Nigeria and the Market Operator has begun disconnecting electricity distribution companies (Discos) that are not complying with the operation codes and guidelines, virtually all the distribution companies in Nigeria are defaulting in one area or the other to the detriment of the consumers
“Cognisant that the Market Operator, a division of Transmission Company of Nigeria, has reportedly served some of Disco’s notices of disconnection from the national grid due to their inability and failure to comply with operation ethics. Unfortunately, it was gathered that virtually all the distribution companies in Nigeria are defaulting in one area or the other to the detriment of the consumers ranging from non-compliance to the Market Rules with respect to payment of their outstanding invoices, posting of adequate bank guarantees, and forwarding of their active Power Purchase Agreements as the case may be to the MO/TCN for failure to make remittances of ancillary services bills.
According to him, millions of electricity consumers in Nigerian homes and communities may be plunged into darkness in the coming weeks as the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and the Market Operator (MO) have begun massive disconnection of debtor electricity distribution companies (Discos) from the national grid.
He added that an extension of the grace period of 60 days given the defaulting discos is almost over.
Adopting the motion, the house charged the Federal government to penalize the erring Discos for failure to remit payment by either freezing their bank accounts or reprimanding rather than suffering the masses that have been diligently paying for their power supply.
The House also mandated its committee on Power to oversee the implementation of the resolutions and report back to the House within one week.
Dominica Nwabufo
