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The Coalition for Affordable and Regular Electricity (CARE), Oyo State Chapter, has strongly condemned the policy by the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) pegging minimum recharge at N5,000.
In a press statement signed by its Oyo State Convener, Ayodeji Adigun, CARE described the IBEDC’s mandatory minimum recharge of N5,000 as “burdensome and unlawful”.
CARE, therefore, called for immediate reversal of policy, urging electricity consumers to commence mobilization across communities with a view to build a resistance against the obnoxious policy.
The statement reads: “The attention of the Coalition for Affordable and Regular Electricity, (CARE), Oyo State Chapter has been drawn to recent media reports over a new policy of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), which partly stipulates that no electricity consumers within its coverage area will be allowed to recharge or purchase electricity whose worth is less than N5,000.
“We of CARE condemn this policy and demand its immediate reversal. This policy is unreasonable and burdensome especially at this critical period, given the current outrageous rate of electricity tariff and high cost living amidst meagre income which has already been eroded by high rate of inflation in the country.
“The policy is also tantamount to an infringement on the fundamental right to freedom of choice as we strongly hold that every Nigerian electricity consumer has the right to decide on the quantity of electricity to be bought.
“It is never within the operational power of IBEDC as stated in the electricity acts to dictate to consumers the quantity of electricity to be procured. As far as we are concerned this new law is a ploy to make electricity an exclusive preserved of the rich in the country.
” Therefore, it further shows that the (IBEDC) like other private electricity companies as well as the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission’s (NERC) as presently constituted are not interested in satisfying the electricity needs of the Nigerian working people, but out primarily for super profit.
“It is in the light of this we reiterate our call for immediate renationalization of the power sector under the democratic control and administration of the elected representative of workers and electricity consumers.
“This is the only arrangement that can commence the process of repositioning the power sector and ensure that electricity is generated, transmitted and distributed to fundamentally satisfy the electricity needs of the mass majority of the Nigeria working people against the current arrangement whereby the electricity generation, transmission and distribution is run to satisfy the profit greed of the few billionaires both in politics and business.
“We hereby call communities and small businesses under the coverage of the IBEDC to organize a joint struggle to resist against this obnoxious policy. We urge the trade union organizations like Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC and Trade Union Congress, TUC to condemn the policy and initiate mass actions against it. If IBEDC succeeds with this anti-poor and draconic policy, other DISCO’s nationally may emulate them.
“By and large, we call on trade unions and electricity consumers to commence mobilization across workplaces and communities with a view to build a formidable resistance against any obnoxious policy by DISCO’s and fight for the renationalization of the power sector under the control and administration of the working people”.
