By Our Correspondent in Minna
Abou 2.5 electricity consumers in Niger state are said to be warming for protest unless the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company(AEDC) improves power supply in the state within 21 days.
The Chairman, Committee on Labour and Productivity,Niger State House of Assembly, Mr Malik Madaki, disclosed this while speaking with Journalists in Minna on Thursday.
According to him, this is the outcome of his meeting he held with stakeholders whom he further said complained that they could no longer condone insensitivity of the AEDC.
He said the stakeholders were also not pleased with over bloated estimated electricity bills and therefore mandated the company to ensure that pre-paid metres were installed.
According to him, his committee has met with such stakeholders such as the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), Youth groups, the Association of Commercial Motorcycle and Riders of Nigeria (ACCOMORON) and religious bodies on the issue.
Madaki, who is representing Bosso Constituency of the state said the Committee had listened to the views of relevant stakeholders and noted their position on the electricity supply situation across the state as well as the decision taken.
“After the stakeholders’ meeting, it was agreed that AEDC must improve on electricity supply before the expiration of the three weeks and as well install pre-paid meters to all customers, or be ready to face mass protest by consumers,’ he said.
The lawmaker expressed concern that some parts of Minna,the state capital, including Dutsen Kura-Gwari had been without electricity for months running without any reasonable explanation from the company.
According to the lawmaker, AEDC will be communicated officially on the decisions taken by the stakeholders.
He decried a situation whereby other states enjoy adequate or uninterrupted power supply,as against the host state, Niger, suffering from inadequate power, leaving most of its residents with power generating sets with the attendant crippling effects ona the socio and economic activities.
Contributing, the state Chairman of TUC, Comrade Yunusa Tanimu, also expressed regret over near total blackout being experienced in the state, adding that electricity consumers in the state had been very patient.
He, however,noted that consumerd would no longer accept AEDC not meeting up with its social responsibilities.
“All we are saying is AEDC should give us light and meters, else we will take drastic action against the power distribution company. We, the relevant stakeholders have met and we have spoken on our decision,” he said.
The leader of the Youths, Comrade Bello Sherif, also expressed regret that youths in the state had been pushed to the wall, adding that their future is at stake with continued blackout crippling business activities, hence their preparedness to join in the mass protest.
Bello who debunked claims by the AEDC that Nigerlites did not pay for electricity consumed, challenged the company to, “As a business minded company, evolve strategies to recover debts instead of throwing the entire citizenry in darkness.”
“It is like they are not ready to do business, the company should come up with strategies to get its monies. AEDC should not be giving excuses, it should come up with ways of recouping its money,”he said.
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