By Dele Sobowale
“FCCPC warns Ikeja, Eko Discos to halt metre replacement amid compliance concerns — Report, November 14, 2024.
The story went on to say that “The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has issued a stern warning to Ikeja and Eko Electricity Distribution Companies (Discos) against plans to replace metres”. The FCCPC under Mr Tunji Bello has become more proactive than at any time since its inception by the Babangida administration (who else?) by Act No 66 of 1992.
But it had been dormant despite Acts in 2004 and 2018 to give it the power to protect consumers. Bello’s activist role must appear strange to the civil servants who worked at the commission for years. I knew one senior officer who reported to the office once a week. Bello’s stern warning to the two Discos underlines his courage in tackling untouchables. Bello and the Discos might not realise it; but, they ignore his warnings at great peril to the lives of their field staff.NERC Ineffective
“People’s indifference is the best breeding ground
for corruption to grow.” — Delia Ferreira, Chair, Transparency International.
The Nigerian National Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, was formed in 2005 under President Obasanjo’s reform agenda. As has been the case with agencies of government created to serve the people’s interest, NERC very quickly became a get-rich-quick scam by those fortunate to be appointed to its board and management.
One of its former chairmen (name known but withheld) was a
perpetual presidential candidate. For someone not known to have established any
multi-billion naira business enterprise, it spoke volumes that the NERC chair
would want to venture into a contest where nobody with less than N30 billion to
burn will try. Under him, trillions of naira were stolen by Discos from their
victims-consumers without punishment from NERC.
Unfortunately for NERC
and the Discos, those deliberately, repeatedly and openly cheated sooner or
later eventually lose patience. A time comes when the victims say “Enough”; and
sometimes violence erupts. From our findings, Discos are on the verge of
unleashing murderous violence on their staff without realising it. How can I be
so sure? I am a customer to five (5) Discos nationwide; and a victim
everywhere. Nigerian Distribution Companies represent the largest establishment
of legalised robbery in any country. They operate with the undisguised immunity
granted them by NERC, as well as, oddly enough, the judiciary and the
police.
Let me explain how the
Attorney-General of Nigeria, the Inspector-General of Police and the Justices
of Nigerian courts aid and promote grand larceny by the Discos.
How two wrongs make a right in Nigeria
Blaming the victims and
punishing them has become the norm in Nigeria today – especially where Discos
are concerned. The judiciary, the prosecutors, NERC and especially the Police,
have colluded to treat consumers of electricity worse than slaves in this
country. In every instance when cases reach the Police and the courts, the
other party is the defendant, not the Disco staff. Two real cases would
illustrate the injustices perpetrated against victims.
In 2014, I was appointed the
General Secretary of an association with the Secretariat at Ikeja. We moved in
and met bills for several years amounting to over N1,275,000. Interestingly
enough, despite the fact that the building had been vacant for fifteen months
before we moved in, bills kept being sent as if it was fully occupied.
The line had been disconnected. Our staff went to
the Disco office; showed our tenancy agreement; that we were not responsible
for the N1,275,000 accumulated bill; that the last tenant was legally evicted
15 months before we moved in. Despite all the evidence, Ikeja Electricity
Distribution staff insisted that we must deposit N600,000 before re-connection
and repay the balance over 12 months. What is illegal extortion? I want any
lawyer to tell me.
“But, this is daylight robbery”,
said the person sent. A security staff asked him to leave. Before he could move
two steps; the complainant was pushed by the security staff; lost his balance
and fell down. He promptly got up and took a swing at the fellow who pushed
him. A full-blown fight might have occurred; but, cooler heads intervened. Next
day, two police officers came to our office to arrest our staff for assaulting
the Disco staff.
In the police station, the
officer in charge said that despite the push by the security officer, which was
not denied, and the extortion of money from our organisation for services not
rendered, our staff should not have retaliated. The matter was eventually
settled the Nigerian way. The question to the IGP and the judiciary, in all
these is: is justice being done to consumers caught in this situation? Is
provocation not an offence?
The second case was just as
bizarre – if not more so. According to eye-witnesses, a disco staff coming down
a ladder jumped from the third step and landed on a passer-by. Almost at the
same time the two of them asked: “Are you blind?”
Within seconds, blows were
exchanged. Just as quickly, disco staff was floored and kicked several times
before the combatants were separated. The man walked away. Two days after the
incident all the lines in the community were disconnected. The man who
allegedly “pulled down a ladder man” and injured him must be produced by the
people.
Otherwise, there will be no
re-connection. Most of the customers were at work when the incident occurred.
Close to 5,000 people, including those with prepaid meters, were affected. The
eye-witnesses were less than 40. Yet, the absolute power wielded by a disco was
punishing them for not producing a man unknown to them – and getting away with
it. Even, the plea that the man does not live in the community fell on deaf
ears.
Again, this matter was settled
the Nigerian way. The question again is: “was the staff of the disco not
provoking violence by taking the law into their hands and punishing people who
did no wrong? What would happen if one of the clients got angry and punched one
of them?”
Why this warning?
“There is going to be hell in this town tonight.” — Title of a song by a US
singer.
The song went on to advise
law-enforcement agencies to take note of provocations by some people abusing
their legal powers in dealing with others; who were getting fed up. The song
was released during the Great Depression of the 1930s when Americans faced the
worst economic hardship in the nation’s history. Millions lost their means of
livelihood; anger erupted into gang violence.
Nigeria is experiencing its worst economy since we
became conscious of monitoring the situation. Latent anger and resentment
against organisations is building up. A disturbingly increasing number of
desperate people with nothing to lose are on the loose. Yet, the most dangerous
individual to fight is someone with nothing to lose. Discos run the risk of
losing ladders, as well as, limbs and lives of their staff on account of
provocation which people now find intolerable. The AGF and IGP should help
everybody to diffuse the tension. There are no “crazy bills” , only
deliberately fraudulent bills submitted by discos for collection.
*Dr. Sobowale is a commentator on public issues
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