*says it should be under democratic control of electricity workers, consumers
By; BAYO AKAMO Ibadan
The Coalition for Affordable and Regular Electricity, (CARE) on Tuesday, demanded an open renationalisation of power sector in Nigeria under a democratic control of electricity workers and consumers.
CARE made the call in a statement in Ibadan by its Oyo State Convener, Comrade Ayodeji Adigun and Secretary, Comrade James Adetipe
made available to journalists in Ibadan.
According to the coalition, going by the crisis bedeviling the nation’s power sector, there is the urgent need ” for an open and immediate renationalisation of the entire power including DISCOs and GENCOs under the democratic control of the working people”.
” As far as we are concerned in CARE, the current orgy of crisis bedeviling the power sector are just a mere manifestation and consequences of the privitisation policy which is only design to always seek and protect profit interest of some people at the expense of the overall interest of the general public to enjoy regular and affordable electricity supply”, it said.
CARE added, ” it is in the recognition of this fact, that we reiterate our call for an open and immediate renationalisation of the entire power including DISCOs and GENCOs under the democratic control of the working people.
” By democratic control, we mean that the operation and finances of the power sector at all levels should be open and subject to the democratic review and approval of committee of the elected representatives of electricity workers, consumers and government.”.
CARE stressed further, ” it is this kind of democratic arrangement that can ensure judicious use of any funds made available for the sector and tackle corruption which is largely responsible for the collapse of the formal NEPA and PHCN”.
” CARE insists that privatisation is a failure and reiterates its call for a renationalisation of power sector under a democratic control of electricity workers and consumers.We also call for the implementation of the TCN Workers’ demands”.
It however reiterated its age long calls on the national leadership of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and NUEE, ” to jointly come up with an holistic plan of actions against the failed privatisation policy and demand for a renationalisation of the power sector and all other sectors of the economy currently being subjected to either full or partial privitisation, under a democratic control of the working people.”
