Saraki suggests action on non-compliant power firms

President, Bukola Saraki, has advocated sanctions against electricity distribution companies (DIDCOS) who fail to live up to the terms of agreements with the Federal Government. Saraki made the call when the Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Sam Amadi, led other members of the Commission on a courtesy visit to the Senate President in Abuja. He said the National Assembly was eager to see Nigerians enjoy power supply and at the cheapest possible cost. The Senate president said the Senate would ensure that all acts of impunity by DISCOS were eradicated. “More importantly, from our own point of view is that how do we ensure that majority of the owners of the DISCOS keep to some of the agreements or the commitments they made at the time of purchase. Some of them by the time they were buying these assets have committed to certain investments that were going to be done,” Saraki said. Also read: NUPENG blasts power Discos for poor supplies He said the National Assembly and NERC were committed to ensure consumers got value for their money. “You are those that work directly with them (DISCOs) and it is important you bring to our attention what is necessary to ensure that at the end of the day the consumers, the Nigerian people get the best benefit. The aim at the end of the day is to ensure that every Nigerian get the power and they get it at the cheapest possible cost and those who are responsible for running these units keep to the agreement,” Saraki said. Amadi said the commission was doing all it could to eliminate fixed electricity charges. He also added that one of the factors militating against increased power supply was the weak infrastructure in the country. “We have mandated Discos to find a way to restructure the fixed charge in a way that they also receive their revenue but in a manner that does not unfairly inconvenience or exploit the consumers. Our commitment is to try as much as possible to ensure that any form of pricing is fair to consumers and such that to help us to sustain the improvement in the sector,” Amadi said. - CAJ News