SANI DUTSINMA.
The Emir of Argungu Alhaji Samaila Muhammadu Mera has called on federal and state Governments to review the privatization process of the National Electric Power Authority as they become incapacitated in satisfying the need of customers.
The Emir made the remarks when the Stakeholders investigation panel set up by the Kebbi state government to checkmate the activities of the Kaduna Electric Company KEDCO paid him a courtesy visit in his palace at Argungu.
He said presently KEDCO has failed it responsibility due to lack of of manpower as well as qualified and professionals staff to manage the affairs of the company and stress the need for governments to take over their responsibilities.
Alhaji Samaila Mera also lamented poor infrastructure, poor management, lack of upgrade of their facilities everywhere, and non contributing to any social cooperate responsibility as major stumbling block toward their operations and urged government at all levels to find out another channels for generating power across the states of the federation to compute with Kedco.
The Mornach also said that, the electricity is being supply to customers in Argungu for only three hours through out the day and estimated bills are given to customers monthly as he said even the emirate is paying one million naira monthly despite poor supply.
He also expressed dismay over the suspension of their qualified and professional staff which make the NEPA Two to take over their activities and called for the reinstatement of some of the affected staff as well as advocate for jingles educate consumers on their rights.
Speaking earlier, the Chairman of the committee, Alhaji Usman Abubakar Gwandu said they are in the emirate to seek fatherly advice in order to achieve the desired objectives adding that, the committee is seeking contributions from the general public, Kedco and other professionals in the field in order to make it thing of the past.
In his contribution, one of the committee member and Representative of the Council of Chiefs, Kebbi state Engineer Abdulsalam Muhammad said people are ignorant about their rights as consumers of energy and urged them to be aware of their constitutional rights and always claim for it were necessary.
He added that, National Electric Regulatory Commission is saddle with the responsibility of protecting the right of consumers and energy providers and called on the customers to always visit and seek information concerning their rights from Kedco and other related agencies.
Abdulsalam further explained that, the company is responsible for the purchase of their equipments and instillation as well as maintenance and upgrade of their facilities, and urged the company to be fair, sincere, and transparent in dealing with customers as demands of Kaduna Electric on governments and customers were endless.
