Reps task FG on poor power supply nationwide

From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja

House of Representatives has charged the Federal Government to find a lasting solution to the poor power supply across the country.

This followed the adoption of a motion by Unyime Idem calling for the intervention of the House in the challenge in the power sector to prevent a total collapse of power supply to the entire country.

The House also mandated its Committee on Power to ensure compliance with the motion and report back to it within one week.

Idem, in his motion, expressed concern over the incessant interruption of power supply across the country, recently. He lamented that the development is causing a disruption to businesses and lives of Nigerians, who are already grappling with several tariff increments.

He said: “Recently, the Federal Government,  through the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and the Market Operator (MO) have begun disconnecting electricity distribution companies (Discos) that are not complying with the operation codes and guidelines.

“The Market Operator, a division of TCN, has reportedly served some of the Discos 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.

“Millions of electricity consumers in Nigerian homes and communities may be plunged into darkness in the coming weeks as the TCN and the MO have begun massive disconnection of debtor electricity distribution companies (Discos) from the national grid.

“Unfortunately, the news is already generating unpalatable outburst as over 20,000 members of the Aba Landlords Protection and Development Association (ALPDA) and other communities have threatened to mobilise and occupy streets if the TCN fails to rescind their decision.”

He admonished the erring Discos to explore seize the dialogue in the issue between it and the government and ensure they comply with the market procedure, adding that the Discos should also “provide security deposit when so required to serve as a guarantee of payment for all amounts due from their participants to the TCN, as well as settle, in a timely manner, any payment due.”

The lawmaker also urged the Federal Government  to penalise the erring Discos directly for defaulting in their ` by “either freezing their bank accounts or reprimand rather than suffer the masses that have been diligently paying for their power supply.”