Rt. Hon. Paul Nnajiofor,
Member Representing Nkanu East,
House Committee Chairman on
Rural Development and CSDP

Date: 2nd October, 2019.
The Hon. Speaker,
Enugu State House of Assembly,
Enugu.

Sir,

MOTION ON NOTICE
MOTION NO. HM/03/2019
THE NEED FOR THE ENUGU STATE GOVERNMENT TO ESTABLISH STATE CONSUMER PROTECTION COMMITTEE
(Rt. Hon. Paul Nnajiofor)

“That this Hon. House urge the Enugu State Government to establish State Consumer Protection Committee as well as encourage residents of Enugu State to form Voluntary Consumer Protection Associations for the purpose of protecting the rights of Consumers of goods and services in the State.

Mr. Speaker, and fellow Honourable Colleagues, the absence of State Consumer protection Committee as provided in the Federal Competitive and Consumer Protection Commission Act 2019 part 11 (4) (1) and section 2 (h) is a serious factor hindering the Protection of Consumers of goods and services against the violation of their rights. It is sad indeed that the public outcry against the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company in the entire region is falling on deaf ears. We will be failing on our sacred duties if we keep mute on this ugly development while the people we have their mandate to represent are unjustly treated, oppressed and marginalized to an unimaginable level and it is our onerous duty as elected representatives of our various constituencies to bring at all times issues that affect our people to the knowledge of Government authorities.
During the 2019 Enugu State Electricity Consumers Engagement Forum held recently, at White Leaf Hotel, New Haven, Enugu, which attracted participants from Enugu State House of Assembly, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria, Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, students from Tertiary Institutions etc, a lot of issues where discovered and discussed on various ways our people are being exploited by the EEDC through their unwholesome activities such as perennial power outages, making consumers to pay more for electricity billings which do not reflect actual consumption, indiscriminate disconnections, without notice even when consumers are not owing, and payment of illegal reconnection fees to EEDC by Electricity consumers.

It is a thing of joy that the meeting enlightened the participants on consumer rights and how to channel their complaints because ignorance of their rights and handling mechanism have been an impediment to address consumer complaints in the State.

In the course of the engagement forum, the electricity consumer in Enugu State were urged to study the provisions of Electricity Power Sector reform Act 2005 to enable them have information that will enable them prevent violation of their rights as consumers by EEDC.

It was also discovered that EEDC has violated provisions of Electric Power Sector Reform Act made to protect consumers and there is lack of enforcement of the provisions by Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Consumer in the State, which gives the EEDC opportunity to exploit and oppress consumers in Enugu State which also has the dangerous tendency of causing breach of peace in the State.

Participants were surprised to notice that there is absence of Enugu State Consumer Protection Committee (ESCPC) as provided in Consumer Protection Commission Act 2019, part II (4)(1) and section 2(h) Sub Section 1, (2) of the same Act.

There is no data showing the number of metered and unmetered electricity consumers in the State in spite of the fact that Enugu State and Local Government Councils are among the owners of 40% share of the EEDC. The Establishment of State Consumer Protection Committee in Enugu State will provide ample and legal opportunities for the protection of the right of voluntary consumer Protection and every groups in synergy with FCCPC.




Prayers

That this Hon. House urges Enugu State Government to establish Enugu State Consumer Protection Committee in line with part 11(4)(1) and section 2 (h) of the Competitive and Consumer Protection Commission Act, 2019 as well as encourage residents of Enugu State to form Voluntary Consumer Protection Associations in line with Section 2(h) of the Consumer Protection Act for the purpose of protecting the rights of Consumers of electricity and other goods and services in the State in line with consumer protection and license performance Standards contained in section 80, 81, and 82 of Electric Power Sector reform Act, 2005.

That this Hon. House directs the EEDC to stop forthwith illegal collections which include: reconnection fees and estimated billing without following estimated billing methodology as approved by Electric Power Sector Reform Act 2005.

That this Hon. House urges the Enugu State Government to key into “The Operational Light up Rural Nigeria (OLRN)” initiative, a sustainable alternative energy rural electrification programme, based primarily on solar technology to provide affordable and reliable access to electricity of up to 1 megawatt (MW) per rural community with no connectivity to the national grid in Nigeria.

4. That this Honourable House do urge the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission NERC to live up to expectation without compromise in the course of discharging their duties to Nigerians.

Be it moved, and it is hereby moved.

Rt. Hon. Paul Nnajiofor (Sponsor)

Co-Sponsors –
Hon. Engr. Uche Ugwu
Rt. Hon Ikechukwu Ezeugwu
Hon. Jane Chinwedu Eneh
Rt. Hon. Ethel O. Ugwuanyi
Rt. Hon. Iloabuchi Aniagu
Rt. Hon. Chinedu Nwamba Ph.d.
Rt. Hon. Ezenta Ezeani
Rt. Hon. Chukwuka Eneh
Rt. Hon. James Akadu
Hon. Chukwuobasi Johnson
Hon. Chinedu Okwu
Hon. Barr. Ibeanaku Onoh
Hon. Emeka Madu

Source : StateReporter News