Ajegunle Residents Demands Immediate Withdrawal of Multiple Bills

By Tunde Babs

The distribution of double and multiple estimated bills to consumers without prepaid meters across Ajeromi-Ifelodun, particularly in the Ajegunle area, is a clear act of exploitation. This practice, which seems to be widespread across various communities under Eko Distribution Company (EkoDisCo), unfairly targets electricity consumers, further burdening them with inflated and unjust charges.

The deceptive justification according to an Eko-DisCo representative for introducing multiple billing was based on an alleged NERC order, in other to bill individual customers and to pave the way for easy access to prepaid meters according to Mr Olaitan, the Head of the Billing Department at Marina.   This erroneous and baseless justification has been fact-checked to be a blatant lie, as the NERC  order was actually, to sanction all discos in Nigeria,   based on non-compliance with the capping of unmetered electricity customers by all discos including Eko-DisCo.

Two reports by NERC, supported by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to sanction all discos for overbilling consumers have proven beyond reasonable doubt that Discos in Nigeria are only interested in making a profit at the expense of improving power supply,  affordability and transparent and fair billing mythology.

NERC  report,  according to punch newspapers of February 10, 2024, indicted all discos in Nigeria for over-billing unmetered customers, to the tune of 105, billion Naira, while a detailed report carried out from January to September 2023 on Eko-DISCO non-compliance on capping order, concluded that they over billed electricity consumers by 14 billion naira in just nine-month, meaning if we conduct research in Ajegunle, for ten years, Eko-DISCO will be owing all customers more trillions of naira.

 It was based on these findings that NERC and FCCPC ordered Eko-DISCO to refund all unmetered customers that were overbilled,  with working class communities mostly affected inclusive of Ajegunle, where no residents have been refunded, rather Eko-DISCO devices another means of exploiting Ajegunle people, by introducing multiple billing. This act, side with side increase in tariff at a time when the increase in petroleum price and cost of living crises has suffocated the purchasing power of the residents and worsened their living conditions of the mass, leading to the   #Endbadgovernment protest.

AJEGUNLE SAY NO TO MULTIPLE BILLING AND INCREASE IN ELECTRICITY TARRIF.

People of Ajegunle from various communities in Layinka, Arumoh, Boundary Road, Nosamu, Ogbowankwo  among others have condemned and rejected the distribution of multiple bills and increases in electricity tariff, which they see as a means of increasing the debt burden on their bill, through the enlightening meeting organised by the leadership of Ajegunle Peoples Movement, a coalition of left organizations in Ajegunle.

The struggle against multiple billing is gaining momentum with various streets, and communities putting pressure on community development associations and the leadership of the Community Development Committee, through the collective effort of the leadership of the Ajegunle People Movement to agree and effect the general resolution,  to reject the multiple billing and increase in electricity tariff in Ajegunle.

WHAT IS TO BE DONE?

 The root cause of this crisis is the continuous implementation of capitalist policies of privatization of the power sector, which has led to continuous grid collapse and exploitation of unmetered customers. It is therefore imperative, to appeal to labour unions, community activists and the Ajegunle people,  to join in the campaign and demand the following:

1.           The immediate and free distribution of prepaid meters to all unmetered consumers to ensure fair and accurate billing.

2.           A town hall meeting involving the management of Eko DISCO, NERC officials, and the residents of Ajegunle to address these grievances and chart a path forward.

3.           The immediate withdrawal of all double bills, as they are in clear violation of NERC’s order and constitute an unjust and illegal burden on consumers.

4. Total reversal of privatization of the power sector.

These demands are not just calling for relief but a stand against the systemic exploitation that continues to plague the Nigerian electricity sector. We urge Eko DISCO to rectify these injustices and align its practices with the principles of fairness and transparency.