By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
Oyo State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Kayode Martins has declared that privatisation of electricity is now a curse and not a blessing to Nigerians.
Comrade Martins who stated this on Sunday during a public symposium organised by Coalition for Affordable and Regular Electricity (CARE), Oyo State with the theme: “Privatisation of Electricity, Curse or Blessing” in Ibadan.
According to the NLC Chairman, it is glaring that the privatisation has become a curse and increased suffering for the masses in and country, adding electricity privatisation would have been a greater benefit to Nigerians particularly the artisans if it was sold to the right handlers.
Comrade Martins stressed that the privatisation was only a blessing to those benefiting from the rottenness in the power sector, as well as adding to suffering of the masses.
” PHCN was not totally sold, government still has 40% stake, and government failed to played it’s own part, we are blessed with a lot of resources in this nation, power privatisation would have been a blessing if the management was committed to the right person, but it rather had to peoples suffering”, he said.
Lamenting that some Nigerian youths and artisans have become jobless due to epilepsy power supply by the Distribution Company of Nigeria (DISCO), the NLC Chairman said those benefiting from the rottenness will always say nothing is wrong with the power sector because it’s a blessing for them, but a curse to a common man.
The Oyo State chairman of National Union of Electricity Employee (NUEE), Comrade Olaide Idris in his remarks said the Distribution Companies should not be blame for irregularly power supply, but that government should play it’s part in stabilizing electricity in the country.
Comrade Idris stated that for adequate power supply in the country, there must be proper monitoring of money allocated for electricity so that it can get to the right channels, genuine war against corruption, good planning project for electricity in various communities, good remuneration for electricity staff, and eradication of thefts by consumers.
Convener of CARE in Oyo State, Comrade Akinbodunse Shedrak said the privatisation as waste of money because government are still pumping money to a system that is not yielding positive result.
“We were promised that every house in Nigerian will be metered within three months before the privatisation, Nigeria electricity regulatory commissions is one of the problem electricity consumers are having.”
A member of CARE, Com. Abiodun Bamigboye said that privatisation was allien to Nigerian constitution, asking why the government would be giving public facilities to private individual to run and makes billions of naira into their personal pocket.
“We are making efforts to bring things to normal, a symposium like this would helped Nigerian to know their rights, there should be united force between the consumers so that this problem can be resolved.”
