The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) in conjunction with the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Agency (NERA) have been called upon to ensure that Nigerians get fair hearing from complaints over reported issues over electricity consumption.
The call was made by many people who had one complaints or the other against the activities of Nigeria electricity management agency and Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JEDC).
It was during the closing of a four day electricity consumer complaint resolution platform organized by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission supported by the MacArthur Foundation held weekend in Bauchi.
All the Electricity consumers in Bauchi state had the opportunity to present their grievances regarding electricity supply from the Jos electricity distribution company during the meeting.
The meeting was tagged a one stop shop for addressing your billing metering, transformer, connection, disconnection, consumer service and other electricity issues in JEDC coverage areas.
Most of the consumers complaint about the issue of estimated billing, delay in delivery of electricity meter after payment, communities buying and paying for transformer installation among others.
Though they came in to the meeting looking furious with files on hand, but left smiling after the issues where addressed by staff from the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, Nigeria electricity regularly agency and the Nigeria electricity management agency and JEDC.
One of the consumers, Professor Abubakar Yusuf in Bauchi metropolis said that he could not believe what he got after presenting his complaint.
According to him, ” I had an accumulated bill of N600.000, because am been charged between N90, 000 to N95, 000 per month, but after presenting my case, I was well attended to and I leave this place a satisfied consumer”.
Another person, Tanko Dutse of Yelwa area of Bauchi, he had the intention of dragging the distribution company to court but halted the move when he heard about the platform.
Tanko Dutse said that, “I wanted to challenged the distribution company for tampering on my rights to electricity, but when I came here, my issues were well attended to. I commend the Commission for this platform.”
Another electricity consumer , Abdulrahim Abdulmumini wants the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission to extend such platform to rural communities.
Acting Executive Chairman of Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, Adamu Abdullah said that electricity supply is key to the day to day running of an individual’s life.
He stressed that, that is why the Commission decided to intervene as there are constant complaints about poor services from electricity distribution companies across the country.
The question now is what happens if a consumer’s case is not addressed within the four days? Adamu Abdullah said the Commission will continue to engage with the relevant agencies.
He urged Nigerians with such complaints to follow due process in pursuing their cases without resulting to violence or aggressive against staff on duty.
