ENUGU ASSEMBLY SETS UP SIX-MEMBER COMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGED EXCESSES OF EEDC

The Enugu State House of Assembly has called on the State Government to establish the State Consumer Protection Committee to protect citizens from alleged exploitation from some service providers. This followed a motion presented by the member representing Nkanu East Constituency, Chief Paul Nnajiofor, over alleged arbitrariness surrounding activities of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC).

The motion adopted by the House was basically to checkmate excesses of some service providers, specifically EEDC over alleged extortion of the people of the state. Chief Nnaji noted that if nothing urgent was done, the activities of EEDC were capable of collapsing the state’s economy.

He pointed out that he was pushed to present the motion based on complaints from his constituents and fragrant breach of electricity Sector Reform Act by the electricity firm. Chief Nnajiofor accused the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) of turning a blind eye on the activities of EEDC in the State and called for immediate action t save the people from the excesses of the company. Contributing on the motion, the Deputy Speaker of the House, Mr. Uche Ugwu, said that the State was under what he termed siege by the EEDC.

The Leader of the House, Mr. Ikechukwu Ezugwu, also said that EEDC was taking advantage of the power distribution monopoly to exploit the people.

Other members, who spoke on the matter, alleged that EEDC gave communities bills ranging from two hundred thousand to seven hundred thousand naira monthly. The Speaker of the House, Chief Edward Ubosi, commended members of the Assembly for their robust inputs. The House inaugurated a six-member committee for further legislative action on the matter.

OLIVER OSSAI