22nd October, 2021
CARE reiterates its call for renationalisation of the power sector under a democratic management and control by the elected representatives of workers and consumers
The attention of Coalition for Affordable and Regular Electricity, CARE, Oyo State Chapter, has been drawn to the news of the takeover of one of the largest investors in Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company, IBDEC by the Asset Management Company of Nigeria, AMCON. According to media reports, AMCON has “appointed itself as manager/receiver over all assets of the Integrated Energy Distribution and Marketing Limited, core investor in Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC).
Taking a look at this development and the reported factors responsible for the takeover shows very clearly that the privitisation of the power sector in the first instance is a fraudulent arrangement designed for the exploitation of the general public not to reposition the power sector. This is not to say that there is a genuine privatisation model that can reverse the rot in the power sector.
In fact the terrible experience of consumers and workers in the sector since 2013 the power sector was privatised has shown that the privatisation exercise is a massive failure. The takeover by AMCON has further showed that none of the challenges and difficulties faced by the sector either today or prior to the privatisation exercise can ever be resolved on the basis of privatisation.
However, AMCON itself is not out or meant to resolve the arrays of problems faced by millions of electricity consumers Given its bureaucratic composition and absence of democracy in the control and management of its day to day activities it is just like many other public owned institutions which are currently in sorry state.
Just like National Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC which hardly protect right and interest of electricity consumers but readily promote the profit first interest of Disco’s, the AMCON controlled management of IBDEC will continue with the regime of exploitation and poor service of the previous management
It is in the light of this background we reiterate our call for the renationalisation of the power sector but under a democratic control of the elected representatives of the workers in the sector and electricity consumers at all levels from the national to the ward level. This is the best way to safeguard the sector after such renationalization from the kind of corruption and mismanagement that were the features of the former NEPA
CARE also calls on the leadership of National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) to join the call for the renationalisation of the power sector as well as to ensure that the interest and right of every electricity worker is adequately protected following the takeover of the IBDEC by the AMCON. We also call on consumers to get organized and prepare to continue to resist exploitation and poor supply by the DISCO.
Signed
Akinbodunshe Shadrack
Convaner
Ayodeji Adigun
Co-convaner
No comments