Irked by what it called the outrageous billing and epileptic power supply, among other inhuman acts against electricity consumers in the state, the Enugu State House of Assembly on Friday asked the management of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) to shut down its operations and vacate the state.

The lawmakers also asked electricity consumers in the state to stop further payment of over-bloated electricity bills, while asking that a state of emergency be declared in the activities of EEDC.

Other states in the south-east including Abia, Anambra, Enugu and Imo were also asked to take drastic action against the company by declaring state of emergency against them.

They also ordered the chairman of the company, Sir Emeka Ofor, and the managing director to appear before its six-man ad hoc committee to explain the company’s activities in the state.

This came as hundreds of electricity consumers in Enugu state early on Friday staged a protest to the House of Assembly over incessant power outage, outrageous billing, alarming tariff among other forms of alleged exploitative activities of the EEDC.

The protesters who displayed numerous placards with various inscriptions, had called on the lawmakers, to as a matter of urgency intervene on the issue while also demanding for the exit of the EEDC.

They claimed that the company since inception, had continued to make life unbearable for citizens of the state.

In adopting a five-point motion on matter of urgent important moved by Hon. Chinedu Nwamba representing Nsukka East State Constituency at a special sitting of the House, the lawmakers decried the activities of the Distribution Company, noting that rather than make lives meaningful for the people, it had continued to exploit the people.

The House urged the state government to liaise with the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to validate the quality of the new metres they are currently supplying the public to know if the setting was commensurate with the unit consumption.

They also lamented the discriminatory billing system against Enugu and other states in the south east, adding that while Distribution Companies in Abuja and Lagos were charging less and distributing power, the EEDC had continued to exploit the people with high bills without providing the needed power supply.

Contributing to the motion, the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Donatus Uzogbado said the state was no longer ready to continue with EEDC adding “we have an endemic problem in our hands. The privatisation has become a bigger problem. We’ve entered a one-chance flying vehicle with an unknown destination. The billing system leaves a lot to be desired. I support the call for state of emergency, we don’t need EEDC any more here. I pass vote of no confidence on them”.

Speaking before setting up a six-man ad hoc committee to conduct public hearings in the three senatorial zones of the state, the Speaker, Edward Ubosi described the activities of EEDC as nothing short of “digital fraud”, adding that it had become so bad that electricity bill had become more than house rents.

The six-man ad hoc committee to conduct public hearing is headed by the Deputy Speaker, Uzogbado, with Honourables SKC Ude Okoye, Emeka Ogbuabor, Philip Nnamani, Chuka Eneh and Chinedu Nwamba.

Meanwhile, the spokesman for the protesters, Mr. Eze Ajuluchukwu, said we” are tired of this EDCC mess, and that is why we are calling on members of the Enugu state House of Assembly to rise up and do something about this ugly issue.

Eze, who described EDDC as an anti-human company, stressed that “we are giving them two options, it is either they give us electricity or they leave Enugu state.

The masses according to him, were being exploited on daily basis by EEDC, and by their actions, the company was sabotaging the economic growth of the state.

As at the time of filling this report, the protesters had occupied the Assembly complex, insisting that the State would no longer condone the activities of the EEDC.

The aggrieved electricity consumers equally asked the Federal Government to as a matter of urgency undertake a review of the privatization ‎of the power sector in Nigeria, as the EEDC lacked the capacity to manage electricity distribution in south- East Nigeria.

Some of the placards displayed by the protesters read thus: “EEDC stop defrauding us, pack your load and go” we are tired of irregular billing system”

“Our industries are folding on daily basis because of no power” we cannot take this anymore, Say no to EEDC”

“We can no longer stand and watch EEDC make us poor, they have forced many people out of their businesses” among other placards.

http://www.energywatchng.com/enugu-assembly-orders-eedc-leave-state-crazy-billing/

Just for their selfish interest, they intercepted the use of prepaid meter. They should leave already

Good for them. Prepaid meter is what's up but they've decided to hide it and make it unavailable to the masses so they can keep milking us dry with crazy bills. You don't see light the whole month and you're still charged outrageously. Even empty properties get those crazy charges.

Corrupt judiciary sending corrupt eedc parking lol.....
oh well, the government don't like competitions and here my brothers are cheering them for a job well done. Fools

I mean you just have to die, starve, pay outrageous fee for a non existing power,and you just have to come out in your hundreds before the could take actions,
were are they?pluto? And I thought they were in enugu,close to the ppl.

i was against the privatisation of NEPA from the onset, i know it can only lead to this.

aba should be shut down

Anambra, abia, imo ebonyi should follow suite.

But where is lalasticlala sef

Keneking:
But where is lalasticlala sef

Keneking:
But where is lalasticlala sef

Inside church ..you no go?

All States Assemblies, follow suit.

Enough is enough!

This is my greatest reservation of declaring Biafra. How can we govern ourselves seems to be my top question.

Imagine what Emeka Offor is doing to his people. It is pathetic!!

That is how to go about it. These people are worst than hoes.

Please let's revert to the days of NEPA biko. At least we won't be paying for what we are not seeing.

Ok

Cjrane2:
They should simply stop the criminal activity called estimated billing;

PASS A LAW BANNING "ESTIMATED" BILLING.

If you cannot provide the proper electricity meter to a home, DO NOT SEND THEM AN ESTIMATED BILL.

It's that simple.

The masses would be happy with this report but take a look at it, almost everyone I know with a prepaid meter have found a way to go about the wiring such that only few appliances are placed on the meter.
While it's the fault of the distribution company that they can't find a way to deal with that, we should ask our leaders what their plans are too for electricity generation. Imagine 200 million people living on 4000MW and it's been the case since I've been born in this country.

Some people will shield the so called leaders and turn it to a political / tribal war. Smh for Nigerians.

PS:

Some peeps have already turned it to Nigeria - biafra e-war

What a gloomy state we are.

Mmmm about time

okay...........................

ehen

Ok

look at enugu complaining. people should come to Benin city and see the mess bedc(benin electricity distribution company) is doing with Benin city. Benin city is doomed.
bedc dey treat us like trash. them dey do us as if say we be slave and nothing dey happen
Bedc is distributing total darkness here and at the end of the month they bring huge bill.
our state house of assembly should do the same like that of Enugu. in fact federal government should do something about this o or else this extortion and total darkness by bedc might lead to cataclysmic revolution.
me don tire for this country
since morning I dey house now I never use my eye see light up till now. wetin be all this nonsense na.
in fact make I wear shirt waka commot for house. if possible make I just go find football betting house bet9ja or naira bet relax first before I go come house later. because na only those places dey give young boy hope for this
nation

Yes ooo, bold move in the right direction.
We in Independence layout are 100%™ in agreement.
What nonsense upon konkobility . Even our prepaid meter be like one wey get speedometer.

EEDC is owned by wealthy individuals from the East and Enugu House of assembly has no power to order them out of the state.

Interesting move.








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Badgers14:
[s]This is my greatest reservation of declaring Biafra. How can we govern ourselves seems to be my top question.[/s]

Imagine what Emeka Offor is doing to his people. It is pathetic!!

It is same thing everywhere.
You sneaky little earthworm had to squeeze in Biafra somewhere.

Emeka Offor using EEDC to milk easterners dry.
I dont understand why every state can not have its electricity distribution company?