MEDIATRACNET
A planned sale of pre-payment meters to electricity consumers would worsen the economic plight of many Nigerians, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), the Coalition of South-East Youth Leaders, has said.
In a statement by its President-General, Goodluck Ibem, in Owerri on Monday, the group urged on the electricity Distribution Companies (DISCOs) and Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to shelve the proposal.
The group asked the Federal Government to direct the NERC to rescind the plan and allow the DISCOs to continue with the distribution of meters at no cost to consumers.
The NGO said the plan was coming at a time Nigerians are struggling to pay for the high electricity tariffs, adding that it would be the height of insensitivity on the part of NERC and DISCOs to sell meters since many households had yet to get free meters as earlier approved by the Federal Government.
“The Federal Government fully paid for meters and gave directive that they be given free of charge to Nigerians. Therefore, anything to the contrary is a grand corruption in display.
“Nigerians cannot pay for electricity meters that have been fully paid for by the Federal Government,’’ it said.
The group called on the National Assembly and relevant anti-graft agencies to probe the activities of NERC and DISCOs to ascertain what happened to the meters that were procured for distribution free of charge to Nigerians.
It also called on the federal government to wade into the issue and ensure that Nigerians get the meters free of charge as earlier approved. (NAN)
