The House of Representatives on Thursday expressed serious doubts over whether Nigerians were getting value for the privatisation of the power sector.
An ad hoc committee of the House said in Abuja that a situation where Nigerians were sent “crazy bills” by electricity distribution companies every month for power they did not consume was unacceptable.
In the face of the high tariffs, it observed that distribution companies had recently given notice of a plan to raise tariffs again.
The committee, which is headed by Benjamin Benson, has summoned the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, all the Discos, and the Bureau of Public Enterprises to explain why Nigerians are not getting electricity supply commensurate to the bills they pay.
The committee is investigating the activities of the Discos, particularly on the issue of “crazy bills,” and questions regarding how much infrastructure they have provided since they acquired the distribution chains under the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
The House is interested in knowing how NERC and the Discos arrived at decisions on tariffs that are unbearable to Nigerians.
The terms of reference of the committee include “to find out the methodology used in verifying investments claimed by DISCOs, the billing process, evidence/proof that NERC is performing its functions appropriately and in the interest of Nigeria, customers.
“Evidence of consumer satisfaction, challenges and problems faced by NERC in carrying out its functions and justification for the proposed tariff increase.”
The House had, on July 8, passed a resolution directing NERC and the Discos to suspend the planned tariff hike pending the outcome of the investigation.
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