By Eberechi Obinagwam
The General Secretary, National Union of Electricity Employees, Joe Ajearo, has revealed that Nigerians were being forced to pay for the inefficiency of the DISCOs through high charges.
Ajearo disclosed this in Lagos, while advising Nigerians not to accept the lies that they were being charged based on the increase in tariff.
“Should anybody comes and tells you that they are charging Nigeria based on increase in tariff; it is a lie. The increase of tariff is inelastic. It will continue to go up till thy kingdom come.
“They are charging Nigerian electricity based on gas. But the international market determines the price of gas.
“Are they importing gas to generate electricity? If it is charged normal, the electricity will be low, and water can be used also. Electricity is not a store products and also, most of the private sector signed an agreement that was dupious. “
He said that the policy of privatization was designed to fail, keep Nigeria dry and destroy it, while few of them will continue to milk the country dry.
He pointed out that Nigerians could no longer pay for the inefficiency of the sector.
“Why would you charge Nigerians of your loses?
“There cannot be service improvement when production remains the same.
“The international indices is that 1000w supplies for one million people. Countries plan ahead, but Nigeria has no plan to increase its plant to serve the country. Nigeria is being deindustrilized. New power plants are being constructed and this is not good for a country that is 60 today,” he said.
He stated that the president’s analysis of 161 in a broadcast is a fluke, it does not hold water.
“The president should tell us what is the amount when it’s changed,” he said.
Also, he explained that out of the N400 billion invested in the sector, Nigerians have not gotten any percent on it for the past seven years.
He added that the agreement with the DISCOs should have been reviewed five years ago, but because they are enjoying some privileges, they are not talking about it for seven years.
“I challenge them to give way for us to take over if they are tired. We have expertise, engineers that are capable.
“I challenge the DISCOs to show us how many transformers they have changed.
Let government give us one of the DISCOs to run so that Nigerians will examine the two.
On the suspended strike action, he said that it was a relief, stressing, “So let’s watch out for the committee and see their implementations.
“Government was equally working because they know what would have happened.
They know that if they reverse the tariff, the international sectors will not be happy. But my concern is, why will the government run the affairs of the country based on their feelings. Nigerian economy is red. We have borrowed so much from international agencies. “
For Nigerians being disappointed with the labour union, he said, Nigerians were free to say whatever, stating that the issue of missed action has been a case.