National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), has called for the criminalization of estimated billing system in the power sector.
The Secretary General, Comrade Joe Ajaero, made the call during a public hearing on a bill to amend Electric Power Sector Reform Act, 2005, organized by the House of Representatives Committee on Power, at the National Assembly.
He noted that the Electric Power Sector Reform Act, makes it mandatory for all Distribution Electricity Licensee to ensure consumers in the country are properly metered.
Comrade Ajaero explained that N3trillion had been injected by the federal government into the privatized electricity companies owned by individuals, without commensurate increase in power generation over the past 10 years.
Minister of State for Power, Mr Goddy Jedy-Agba, however denied the indiscriminate electricity tariff imposed by Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) on consumers.
The consultant to the Nigeria Governors forum NGF, Eyo Ekpo, however argued that the states have a right under the law to legislate on electricity issues.
Mr Ekpo, said that in paragraph 14 of schedule 2, the constitution reveals that the states have power to make laws for electricity operations within the boundary of their states and to make laws for electricity business that is within their states.
The Chairman House Committee on Power, Mr Aliyu Magaji, disagreed with the position of Nigerian Governor’s Forum (NGF) over power generation and distribution in the country.
RN