BEDC: Agency of "Oppression" who Fails to listen to the Flies
By Eben Enasco Kingsley
The Benin Electricity Development Company BEDC, sometime ago took the responsibilities of providing uninterrupted power supply to the consumers spanning across four states, Edo, Delta, Ondo and Ekiti State.
Their presence and relevance became possible because, Nigeria Electricity Power Authority,NEPA Failed and lost its steam to adequately power the Country.
The Power Supply detororated and hope dashed.
Since NEPA saddled with the responsibilities delivered poorly, the need to have autonomous power supply became imparative.
Nigerians were unanimous in thier quest to have a steady power supply and consumption.
The government of Goodluck Jonathan in 2013 requested for Bidding from independent corporate bodies while the privatization process had been established.
And behold expression of interests on major dailies circulated across the lenght and breath.
The Bidders for the right to privatize the power sector cummulated and a winner emerged.
It was Funke osibudu the Ex-Uion Bank Boss who got the nod having polled the lowest commercial and Technical appraisals and its evaluation as mandated in procurement rules.
The tide was trending and consumers expectation were high.
They had believed that the power supply was going to improve sequentially.
Before long, the fortunes of those who expected a better living through the hype of the new owners hit a snag.
Although the supply stabilized for a peroid but got worst off after the pingping-hellish- hackers lost the true reasons for embarking on these project.
No matter how hard no consumer is happy with what they consume because they consume less and pay more.
Even those who awarded the contract are increasingly unhappy with the outgoing tenant on this.
The metering system is never a standard good enough for the consumers.
In their quest to hoodwink consumers BEDC they told all they were ready to improve electricity Consumption
According to them,"As part of our commitment to efficient service delivery, we aim to meter our customers in not more than 45 days after payment has been made".
They have been negatively way off this statement
They have become "An Agency of oppression and never would listen to the flies".
Edo CSO in a statement issued sometime ago by its Spokesperson, Leftist Osazee Edigin claimed that the electricity distribution company is in contrary to what is on ground.
On the issue of Procurement of transformer consumers buy their transformers themselves because BEDC would not.
The network however called on electricity
regulatory bodies and the federal government to investigate BEDC’s claim.
In the publication made
available in the company’s Website
( www.bedcpower.com
< http://www bedcpower.com >)
“NERC, Bureau for Public Procurement and The Minister for Power must investigate these lies told in this publication by
the Benin Electricity
Distribution company.”
The statement is reproduced here:
“Funke Osibudu led management team of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company has failed the expectations of the
people on what the unbundling of the power sector which was hoped to address the perennial energy challenges of the Nation seeks to achieve"
Lately, the chairman of the State Council of Obas and the traditional ruler of Ikare Akoko, Oba Akadiri Momoh passed vote of no confidence on the electricity company a statement he made in Akure, Ondo State.
He described the activities and services of the BEDC in the state as “antithetical to the
purpose it was established”even as its called on the Federal Government to consider a better option for good and efficient services.
Similarly, in Edo State the governor, Godwin Obaseki described BEDC while commissioning the substaion at Okpilla in Edo North as "frustrating"
But today, they resolved in taking the presure group to court to restrain them on further protest against their continous onslaught on consumers.
Let me shock you, BEDC staff joined EDOCSO in court and plans to down tools soonest.
Recall that the management of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) instituted a civil case against Communities, civil society groups and youth groups, they prayed the court to grant them a perpetual injunction to restrain the aforementioned from protesting against its unfair business dealings against the people.
They went further to demand the sum of N500, 000, 000 (500 million naira) as compensation from the civil society group.
The case came up for hearing Tuesday but later adjourned till the 14th of November, 2018 for time to enable other defendants respond to the claims by the BEDC.
EDOCSO, represented by Osagie Obayuwana’s chambers and duly supported by Barrister Osamwonyi Ibude, Douglas Ogbankwa were unavoidably absent.
Some angry staff of the BEDC were in court as well in solidarity with Edo Civil Society Organisations,
They believed their poor working conditions which are not different from modern day slavery informed their support
They earlier informed EDOCSO how they are given financial targets to meet by the embattled Funke Osibudu irrespective of whether services were rendered or not.
One of them who pleaded on anonimity disclosed that; "there is a massive mobilization of their colleagues to down tool any moment from now as they cannot continue to bear the high headedness of the management whose primary mission is to milk the customers while supplying darkness.
Addressing supporters,the Coordinator General of Edo Civil Society Organisations, Leftist Omobude Agho sent a strong warning to the management of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) owing to its subtle tactics recently in ensuring that the performance review agreement between the DISCOs and Federal Government get an extension till 2019 against the stipulated 1st November, 2018 in the agreement.
He stressed that, the people have not enjoyed any improvement of electricity supply since its privatization
He reiterated their stand against the renewal of the licence of BEDC By the authorities
FUNKE AND HER INEPT MANAGEMENT MUST GO" the group insist
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