Uninterrupted power supply, not tariff increase

Precisely because yours comradely is involved, I bear witness that the planned picketing by labour and civil society allies of all offices of the electricity distribution companies (DISCOS) nationwide including Abuja today Monday February 8, protesting the unilateral and unlawful hike of electricity tariff is timely. All Nigerians should hail the NLC for this singular […]

Precisely because yours comradely is involved, I bear witness that the planned picketing by labour and civil society allies of all offices of the electricity distribution companies (DISCOS) nationwide including Abuja today Monday February 8, protesting the unilateral and unlawful hike of electricity tariff is timely. All Nigerians should hail the NLC for this singular mass action for improved uninterrupted power supply instead of incessant non-service charges by underperforming generating and distribution companies. Its time President Muhammed Buhari urgently revisited the report of the 2014 national conference and implement the holistic recommendations the power sector instead of allowing the same unhelpful posting of high tarrif by underperforming generating and distribution companies. The point cannot be overstated; Power/ Energy is so strategic to the industrialization and the wellbeing of the people. For one, the Federal government must urgently review the privatisation contracts between the Federal government and GenCos and DisCos and give a two (2) year time-frame to firms in the Electric Power Sector to allow them stabilize and provide efficient power supply to Nigerians before they can contemplate any tariff increase. There should also be more transparency in all future reform of the Nation’s power assets. We have paid enough prohibitive price as a people for non- transparent opaque transfer of national assets to investors without investable capital and operators without the needed skills, competence and capacity. Between 30% and 35% of manufacturing costs are energy related expenses. Without electrification there can be no industrialization. The promise and expectation that President Muhammed Buhari will revive textile industry, in particular and manufacturing in general, is not possible without uninterrupted, relatively cheap electricity. Also its time for Buhari administration listens and engange the sector workers and their union, Electricity Workers’ Union (NUE) to critically review the power sector reform with a view of increasing public sector investment. Government should not leave the strategic power sector in the hands of the private sector.  As the report of the 2014 national conference observed, the privatisation contracts between the Federal government and GenCos and DisCos are on the brink of collapse, there is therefore the need for an agonising re-appraisal of the whole contract as originally formulated”.  It is clear that the huge finance deficit that is threatening the whole power sector cannot be overcome by private investors alone. Today’s protest must also draw attention to other critical recommendations of the National Conference. The recommendations include the following:
“Government should implement the National Gas Master Plan whose main objective is to transmit gas from source to all the States of the federation for industrial and domestic as well as to Independent Power Projects (IPPs); Government should finance the generation of bankable geosciences data for all our coal – fields to help accelerate the use of coal to increase power generation in the country; Government should be actively involved in the funding of new coal power plants; The use of Bitumen as a veritable energy source be exploited soonest; A deliberate policy to encourage local production of spare parts and all electrical equipment needed by the Nigerian Electricity Supply industry be put in place; Extra effort be made to promote energy efficiency within households and industries; There should be penalties prescribed for vandalization of gas and electricity infrastructure; Everything be done to fast track the development and completion of identified large hydro sites in Nigeria such as Mambilla, Zungeru, Gurara, Dadin Kowa and Kiri Dams; The Supergrid development be fast-tracked so power can be developed close to the fuel sources and generated power transmitted to other parts of the country or neighbouring countries at low loss levels. This should reduce incidences of gas pipeline vandalizations; In view of the United Nations policy on Universal Access to Electricity, the Nigerian Government should, as a matter of urgency, ensure access to electricity for every Nigerian home before the year 2020; Government should ensure the takeoff of the Hydro Electric Power Area Development Commission (HYPADEC) so that affected riverine communities would have access to power; Immediate steps should be taken to remove the current restriction on how much power a private entity can generate off – grid; Nigerian engineers should be adequately represented in the planning and implementation of all aspects of the power sector reform program; Power scheme for the next six (6) years (including funds already accumulated as seed money) to facilitate attainment of 33, 000MW coal-fired power contribution and an aggregate rating of 55, 000MW by 2020; Government should consciously continue to participate/invest in power generation along with competent private sector investors; The Federal Government should adopt clean coal technology to mitigate the negative environmental consequences from the use of coal for power generation; and The Federal Government should develop a policy in respect of Kainji, Jebba and Shiroro hydro plants to ensure that tree fringe forest is replaced immediately for the water level to be kept highly stable.”