The Patriotism Awareness Forum (PAF) has applauded the intervention of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) over the purported plan by electricity distribution companies (DISCOS) to phase out UNISTAR electric meters by November 14, 2024.
The group said the intervention of the two federal government agencies has quelled the fear and anxiety of millions of Nigerians, sparked by the thoughtless, rash and inhuman decision by Electricity distribution companies (DisCos).
The group reiterates that this intervention is an indicator of the President Bola Tinubu administration’s commitment of zero tolerance to the exploitation of Nigerians by business entities.
In a release issued in Lagos and signed by the Convener, Nelson Ekujumi and Co-Convener, Peter Claver Oparah, PAF stated that the intervention of NERC and FCCPC is timely, as Nigerians have been disturbed and unsettled by this abrupt decision of the DISCOS, which would have unleashed economic and psychological pain on the populace if allowed to be implemented.
The activists furthermore cautioned DISCOS to refrain from over-heating the already unstable Nigerian polity with decisions that are likely to provoke a revolt from Nigerians.
“We note that NERC, through its Vice Chairman, Musiliu Oseni countered the brash notice from DISCOS by stating that no official directive had been given on the phasing out of Unistar meters, even as they are bound to be phased out.
We note that in his statement, he made it clear that DISCOS are bound to REPLACE the Unistar meters at no cost to consumers and that on no condition should any customer be placed on estimated billing or denied access to electricity whenever the meters would be phased out”.
“Similarly, PAF notes that FCCPC under the able and dynamic leadership of Mr Tunji Bello has intervened through its Director of Special Duties and Strategic Communication, Ondaje Ijagwu, in a statement recently, wherein he stated that the costs for the replacement of the Unistar meters should not be passed to consumers during the phase out period as DISCOS are bound to REPLACE the Unistar Meters and not force consumers to buy them. He equally warned that consumers should not, for whatever reasons, be forced to pay estimated billings vowing that ‘We (FCCPC) cannot allow consumers to be unfairly charged or placed on estimated billing. This would be a violation of existing regulations’.
“PAF salutes the intervention of these two federal government agencies for being alive to their statutory obligations against the arbitrary, harsh and thoughtless decision of DISCOS to unleash such inhuman policies against Nigerians at this particular time. We see the threat of the DISCOS to force Nigerians who were not able to buy new meters to replace their Unistar meetings by November 14, into the corrupt, obnoxious estimated billing as retrogressive and callous
According to PAF, “We thank both NERC and FCCPC for coming to the rescue of Nigerians by insisting that on no account should Nigerian consumers be placed on either estimated billing or denied access to electricity for reasons of the phasing out of Unistar meters.
“We want to remind the DISCOS that electric meters are their property hence the position of both NERC and FCCPC that they should REPLACE the Unistar meters with new ones and not pass the costs to consumers.
We therefore expect the DISCOS to seamlessly and quietly swap the Unistar meters with the new meters without creating deadlines or issuing notices and moratorium about it. That is how it should be!
The statement concluded, “Once again, we commend NERC and FCCPC for their timely, decisive and patriotic intervention on this matter and we see this as a testimonial of the President Tinubu administration responsive and responsible commitment to the welfare and well-being of Nigerians. We urge the NERC and FCCPC to ensure that the DISCOS fully comply with their directives and not subject Nigerians to unnecessary pain and exploitation at this period of economic challenges”.
Hi! I just finished reading your article, and I have to say it was really informative! You did a great job of covering points that people often overlook, and I loved how clearly you explained everything. This really struck a chord with me, and I think many others will find it helpful as well. I’ve been exploring a related topic on my site, where I discuss [mention related subject]. I’d love to hear what you think about it! Thanks again for sharing such great content. Keep up the awesome work!
Hello! I just wrapped up reading your post, and I have to say it’s really insightful! You’ve brought attention to some crucial points that are often missed, and I loved how you laid it all out. It felt very relatable, and I think it will be helpful to many readers. I’ve been covering a similar topic on my website, where I focus on [mention relevant subject]. I’d be curious to hear your take on it! Thanks for providing such valuable insights, and keep up the great work!