…set to commence a one month warning strike
Electricity Consumers in the south East region of Nigeria under the auspices of South East Electricity Consumers Association (SEECA) have expressed their dissatisfaction over the inability of the disco to provide prepaid metres, arbitrary increment of bill in the name of estimated bills abf epileptic power supply.
In a letter written to the legal unit of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, EEDC, the consumers represented by the trio of Rev Okechukwu Christopher Obioha JP, Mr Ogbuike Ibeagi and Sandra Ogbe said they can no longer tolerate these acts and wants something to be done urgently.
In the letter which was written by their counsel, Barr. Alex Amujiogu, the consumers said it’s unconscionable for EEDC to say that they’re hoping on world bank to supply prepaid metres to them and wondered “what has world bank got to do with giving Electricity Consumers such as our client, prepaid meters which the same consumers have went beyond their mantra to pay in order to secure same.”
They went further to remind the disco of the resolutions of their meeting held on the 23rd day of May 2024 wherein they resolved to go on a one month warning strike should they (EEDC) fail to resolve the issue of prepaid metres with their customers.
“That there shall be one month warning strike by all Electricity Consumers in the South East, to protest the unabated delay, refusal and/or negligent in metering South East Consumers (our client) with Prepaid Meters as required by law and the mandate of your office.
“That the said warning strike shall commence on the 15″ day of June 2024 and ends on the midnight of 14″ day of July 2024.”
Below is the letter written to EEDC:
RE: CONTINUED NON AVAILABILITY OF PREPAID METERS, ARBITRARY BILL INCREMENT AND EPILEPTIC POWER SUPPLY
We are Solicitors whose services have been retained by Rev Okechukwu Christopher Obioha JP, Mr Ogbuike Ibeagi and Sandra Ogbe (For themselves and on behalf of other aggrieved members of South East Electricity Consumers Association (SEECA). They are hereinafter referred to as our client.it is under their further instruction and authority that we have been propelled to write you as seen hereunder:
1. That we are in receipt of your reply letter dated the 26″ day of March 2024 with reference number 31/Legal/Dept/EEDC/12 12/024/1065.
2. That the content of the said Reply regarding the above subject matter is not only shocking but also leaves much to swallow thereby necessitating this reaction.
3. That while we do not want to join issues with you regarding the causes of Epileptic power supply, it beats our imagination on the reason given for non metering of electricity consumers in South East with prepaid meters.
4.That though our client have at various intervals went beyond the responsibility by making payments for the supply of prepaid meters to them by your company, for many months/years now, same have not been supplied to them for no known just cause
5.That indeed, even the claim that you are already making plans to embark on Mass Metering Scheme with the purported assistant of world bank whom you are depending upon for its realistic nature contained in your letter. We then ask, what has world bank got to do with giving Electricity Consumers such as our client, prepaid meters which the same consumers have went beyond their mantra to pay in order to secure same.
6. Without further ado, TAKE NOTICE that at an Extraordinary General Meeting of South East Electricity Consumers Association (SEECA) being coordinated by our client, held on 23rd day of May 2024, the body has passed the here under resolutions after taking a bird eye view of these deplorable situation.
A) That there shall be one month warning strike by all Electricity Consumers in the South East, to protest the unabated delay, refusal and/or negligent in metering South East Consumers (our client) with Prepaid Meters as required by law and the mandate of your office.
B) That the said warning strike shall commence on the 15″ day of June 2024 and ends on the midnight of 14″ day of July 2024.
C) That this unavoidable step is a prelude to a more biting action, if the South East Electricity Consumers are not individually metered with repaid meters.
D) That our client cannot be continued to be emasculated with estimated billings, especially at this modern age when enough time and gap had been given to your company to modernize the system of electricity supply and distribution.
FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that the above decision is ignited for the purpose of your knowledge and for straightening of records.
Yours Faithfully,
OZO ALEX AMUJIOGU Esq.
(THE TEMPLE OF JUSTICE)
