The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) yesterday faulted the estimated billing system in the country.
“The union doesn’t want to bask in the euphoria of the Act/law which does not provide one Megawatt to the system. The union doesn’t want to bask in the euphoria of having 19 companies, 19 mds and EDs on 4,000 Megawatts.
“The company that was owned by one ED before will now multiply. The multiplication of 19 successor companies did not add one Megawatt. So what’s the honest sense of sweeping in 200 companies knowing the generation is constant,” Comrade Ajaero noted.
In the bid to address the myriad of challenges facing the industry, Comrade Ajaero underscored the need for a review of the shareholding of the industry.
According to him, “The option of Government controlling 60 percent shares of the facilities as against the present 40% (inclusive of the negotiated 10% equity shareholding for staff in line with the Laws setting up the National Council on privatization (NCP) is imminent as the Private Sector Operators have clearly shown lack of capacity to construct a simple Power Plant since the last 9 years.
“Besides, the Federal Government has continued to fund the Sector. Available statistics show that about N400 billion was realized from the privatization of the Power sector with the Federal Government investing over one trillion thereafter,” he stressed.
Chairman of the House committee on power, Mr Magaji Aliyu explained that the public hearing was aimed at addressing concerns raised by the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF).
