Nigerians can no longer pay for inefficiency of electricity operators – NUEE

By allcitynews.ng

Unless Federal Government has rethink on privatisation of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), the hope of getting regular electricity would be dashed.

This is so because both Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) and Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) are only speaking and protecting the interest of investors at the detriment of general public.

The General Secretary of National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE). Comrade Joe Ajaero made this known during a press briefing held today as the country marked 60th Independence.

Talking on state of electricity seven years after the privatisation, Ajaero said he wondered how the level of 4000megwats before the privatisation had not been improved upon by the investors.

Stressing that Nigerians can no longer pay for the inefficiency of the operators, the NUEE Scribe cautioned the operators against blackmailing or threatening Federal Government that there would vacuum or the sector would experience break down if and when they investors leave, noting that NUEE has capable and qualified hands to take over distribution of electricity.

Similarly demanded FG to explain to the general public on why it has not review the policy after five years.

NUEE still expressing worries over the development pointed out that it was fraud for discos to have invested N400 billion in the power sector.

The N400 billion did not bring any improvement to the economy because they borrowed the funds from banks within the country without bringing in fresh funds from outside.

If Federal Government that invested N1.7 trillion has just 40 per cent shares while the operators controls 60, yet the same FG keep pouring funds into the company without any construction of new plants by the investors, then it is a fraud.

Ajaero also said that privatisation policy is out to destroy the economy of the nation and to milk Nigerians, saying since the distribution companies take over nothing has changed.

According to him, it is a fraud for government to charge Nigerians with International rate when the country have sources to generate power.

NUEE therefore plead with Nigerians not to pay for inefficiency of the system. The union also charge government to hand over power sector to them for proper management.