Barrister Sunday Oduntan, Executive Director, ANED
-By Olufunke Afolami
Contrary to a report from some section of the media making the rounds that Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) have aligned with the federal government to provide a two-month rebate of free electricity to their customers nationwide, the Executive Director, Research and Advocacy at the Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors (ANED), Barrister Sunday Oduntan, debunked the report that there was no free electricity from the DisCos.
According to the Executive Director of ANED, the energy to be supplied for the 2 months is not free from the DisCos but is being paid for by the Federal Executive, in partnership with the National Assembly; as such, the ability for the DisCos to go forward is subject to the stimulus package being passed by the National Assembly and signed into law by President Mohammadu Buhari.
The ANED boss was of the view that, “While this palliative seeks to mitigate the economic challenges that Nigerians are being subjected to during this COVID-19 period, it is our hope that we will not lose sight of the no-cost reflective tariff challenges that the DisCos continue to suffer under. Regardless, we laud Mr. President, members of his government and the National Assembly for this initiative.”
It would be recalled that the Speaker, Federal House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, had made a call at a meeting between the National Assembly leadership and the Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmad, and the Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation, Ben Akabueze, among others for free electricity during the lockdown occasioned by Covid-19.
It was a proposal which many believed was necessary as Nigerians are sitting down at home and it will help cushion the effect of Covid-19.
But no response according to the DisCos from the side of the government and National Assembly on how the initiative will be carried out. Hence, no agreement has been reached.
Comment here