Reps pass bill to criminalise estimated billing
punchng.com Oct 4, 2019 4:10 AM
Speaker, House of Representatives, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila

Leke Baiyewu, Abuja

The House of Representatives on Thursday passed three bills sponsored by the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, one of which seeks to criminalise estimated billing of electricity consumers by distribution companies.

When the proposed law is concurred with by the Senate and assented to by the President, it will become criminal for service providers to issue estimated bills, also known as ‘crazy bills’, issuance of which would attract either a one-year jail term or a fine of N1m or both.

The proposed law would also compel a distribution company to provide prepaid meter to an applicant within 30 days, while barring the DISCOs from disconnecting the consumer after the 30-day period within which meter should be installed.

The Electric Power Sector Reform Act (Amendment) Bill 2018, which Gbajabiamila, then as Majority Leader, presented in the Eighth National Assembly, was re-presented in July 2019.

The bill is entitled, ‘A bill for an act to amend the electric power sector reforms Act to prohibit and criminalise estimated billing by electricity distribution companies and provide for compulsory installation of pre-paid meters to all power consumers in Nigeria and other related matters.’

Leading the debate on the bill, Gbajabiamila condemned the DISCOs for whimsically issuing estimated bills on a monthly basis.

“This billing is not known by any scientific rule,” he stated.

The House also passed a bill seeking to to make Federal Government ministries, departments and agencies reserve 20 per cent of job slots for persons living with disabilities.

It is entitled, “A bill for an act to provide that 20 per cent of jobs available in all Federal Government ministries, departments, agencies and companies be distributed amongst the physically challenged persons in Nigeria and for other matters connected thereto.’

Another bill passed was one seeking to create a bank that grants interest-free loans to students of tertiary institutions in the country.

The bill is entitled, ‘A bill for an act to provide easy access to higher education for Nigerians through interest-free loans Nigerian Education Bank established in this act with a view to providing education for all Nigerians.’

The bill stated that the provision of the proposed law shall apply to all matters pertaining to the application and grant of loans to Nigerians seeking admission into institutions of higher learning in Nigeria through the Nigerian Education Bank.

Source:
https://punchng.com/reps-pass-bill-to-criminalise-estimated-billing/amp/

Why not propose a bill that will criminalise your huge salaries and allowance?

That Bill that will better the life of the masses in this country will never see the light of the day.....

We then wait till the upper chambers....... The main Ogas them...... Concurs to it.

This one will take 2 years..........A nice bill but they will kill it. A lot of criminals in this country!

For the first time, I'd agree that they're about to do something that would truly impact the lives of the average and poor Nigerians positively.

That Estimated billing is nothing but a legitimized robbery.

While at that, they should consider looking into doing something about landlords arbitrarily increasing their rents. You get an appartment today and the next year the landlord is asking that you pay extra 50000 or move out, even though no structural improvement was made on what existed at the time one rented the apartment.

Too many things that are critical to the livelihood of the people are wrong in this country, but we just prefer dwelling on frivolities.

Kool

Biko, even if this will be the only thing they will achieve, we will be grateful

Good
Bedc is just something else

This is the change we voted for.
Nigeria must be great again.

Wantedmiller:
Why not propose a bill that will criminalise your huge salaries and allowance?

That Bill that will better the life of the masses in this country will never see the light of the day.....

We then wait till the upper chambers....... The main Ogas them...... Concurs to it.

This one will take 2 years..........A nice bill but they will kill it. A lot of criminals in this country!

Gbam!
Gbammer!!
Gbammest!!!
Remain blessed Oga.


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Welcome development

I must commend them. This bill is a good step towards development and the warfare of Nigerians. It's just a shame that it might never be enforced or allowed to stay due to this same corruption.

Freemanbobble:
Good
Bedc is just something else

igbodefender:
They should also look into prepaid distribution to make sure nothing is being rigged.

Have you spoken with your state lawmakers about these

Great newss

long over due

anonimi:


Gbam!
Gbammer!!
Gbammest!!!
Remain blessed Oga.


www.nairaland.com/attachments/2943664_wage_jpeg1488711c5349aed5f79f2e121e58b278


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www.nairaland.com/attachments/2529977_nass_jpeg20217b4f045ab12789674b258da46f96

Bros its a gradual process

anonimi:




Have you spoken with your state lawmakers about these

Baba we don talk tire

Nwaohafia1:
Biko, even if this will be the only thing they will achieve, we will be grateful

Why are you selling yourself cheap and then run off to other places where the citizens know how to hold their public servants accountable every day and not just when elections are happening?


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Freemanbobble:
Baba we don talk tire

Should we ever get tired of talking for things to improve?

Good one, But I hope it will also have effect in communities where bills are paid to the community-appointed nepa bill collectors

Good one.

Good news...... it's been a while I heard something good coming from our lawmakers.Kudos

Nice one

passing bills and laws is one thing , following up to see it's active implementation is another thing

omenka:
For the first time, I'd agree that they're about to do something that would truly impact the lives of the average and poor Nigerians positively.

That Established billing is nothing but a legitimized robbery.

While at that, they should consider looking into doing something about landlords arbitrarily increasing their rents. You get an appartment today and the next year the landlord is asking that you pay extra 50000 or move out, even though no structural improvement was made on what existed at the time one rented the apartment.

Too many things that are critical to the livelihood of the people are wrong in this country, but we just prefer dwelling on frivolities.

I have prepaid meter. My bill have climbed to an average of 25k per month. But when I was using estimates, I pay nothing more than 6k/month.
Those that pay 500 to 1k per month now pay 3k upwards per month. Be careful what you wish for.

My estimated billing monthly ranges from 20 to 30k
Am i on residential or industrial.scams billings everymonth

Wow! I love this. It will bring a massive improvement in the power sector

Freemanbobble:
Good
Bedc is just something else

Efcc should investigate that company asaf because na Dem b estimated bill.

Who care. Who obey Nigeria law again. Even Buhari has never obey the law. Useless law from useless set of people.

Very good. I will sue PHCN now

It is simple to say even with this, Power company will still give estimated bills because Nigerians don't even know what's right and what's wrong.