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The Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEAC) has lent its voice to the calls on electricity distribution companies (DISCOs) in the country to provide consumers prepaid meters.

 

The association described as unjust estimated billing system currently in vogue as a result of non-provision of prepaid meters by DISCOs.

 

The association’s President, Mr Chris Okonkwo, told newsmen in Lagos on Thursday that metering of all houses of consumers would reduce their sufferings.

 

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee had on Wednesday announced that it was set to probe excessive electricity charges by Discos, accusing them and the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) of conniving to extort and shortchange Nigerians.

 

The committee, chaired by Rep. Israel Ajibola Famurewa (APC, Osun), noted that both NERC and the discos had “failed totally in ensuring that Nigerians get value for money spent on electricity consumption.”

 

Essentially, the committee is seeking to curb the exorbitant electricity charges being levied on consumers by discos.

 

Okonkwo, who condemned estimated bills being churned out by DISCOs, said: “The system is impoverishing the people as the N18,000 national minimum wage has not been increased while some workers are also being owed salaries for many months.”

 

He noted that the DISCOs had not kept faith with the privatisation deal they signed with the Federal Government to provide prepaid meters for consumers.

 

“DISCOs resorted to estimated billing of consumers because they sacked their workers and do not have enough manpower to recover their debts.

 

“The DISCOs have complained that they have about N1.1 billion to collect from consumers for energy already supplied,” Okonkwo said.

 

The electricity workers’ boss, however, faulted the sale and unbundling of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), saying “ there were some lapses in it.”

 

PHCN was unbundled by the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan. (NAN)

In a comprehensive strategy to tackle insecurity in Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari is planning to carry out a reorganisation, Mr Yakubu Dogara, Speaker of the House of Representatives, has said.

Dogara spoke on the plan after he and Senate President Bukola Saraki had a closed door meeting with Buhari on Wednesday in Abuja over the recent killings in Plateau.

Although he did not give details, but he said: “Buhari has told us what he is doing, the reorganisation that he plans to put in place to ensure that this doesn’t happen.”

“The President has taken enough steps; these are security issues, they are not matters that you can discuss.”

The Speaker, who condemned the attack, affirmed that government could continue to tolerate the situation where innocent people were being killed in hundreds.

He also stressed the need for Nigeria to sustain the fight against violence, noting that the nation cannot lose the battle and continue to keep its civilisation.

Dogara pointed out the level of devastation caused by Boko Haram insurgency in the North-east and advised the government to prevent a similar situation in other parts of the country.

On Tuesday, the police confirmed that 100 people were killed over the weekend in six villages of Xlands, Gindin Akwati, Ruku, Nhgar, Kura Falls and Kakuruk, all in Gashish district in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area.

This, among other reasons, prompted President Buuhari’s visit to Plateau to sympathise with the people, especially the attack victims, and the state government.

He held an interactive session with the traditional rulers, religious leaders, representatives of youth, women and trade union groups among other stakeholders in the state.

The President ordered the security chiefs to be vigilant and ensure that the lives and property of the people were protected.

He, had, however, called on Nigerians to live in peace and shun inflammatory utterances that can promote conflicts.

Super Eagles striker, Odion Ighalo, has reacted to the news of an  alleged death threat issued to his family due to his failure to score a goal from a clear-cut opportunity against Argentina, saying it was not deliberate.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ighalo, who replaced Kelechi Ihanacho in the second half of the match between Nigeria and Argentina in the ongoing World Cup in Russia, failed to convert a through pass from Ahmed Musa had incurred the anger of fans.

NAN reports that most Nigerian fans strongly believe that if Ighalo had scored the goal, it would have seen the Super Eagles through to the Round of 16 of the World Cup.

Speaking through his Social Media timeline, Ighalo, who was involved in Nigeria’s qualification for the World Cup, said that he regretted not scoring the crucial goal.

“It is a great experience to play at the World Cup and I enjoyed every moment of it, but sometimes things don’t work the way you want.

“But life has to go on, I am grateful to God I did not sustain any injury,’’ he said.

NAN reports that after the match which generated a lot of ill-comments from fans, the Changchun Yatai F.C. of China’s striker, apologised to Nigerians and assumed personal responsibility for the blunder. (NAN)

The Lagos State Government has advised students keep abreast of current happenings around the world and shun all forms of vices as those had negative consequences for their lives.

The Deputy Governor, Dr Idiat Adebule gave the advice at the finals of the 9th Lagos State Schools Governor’s Quiz Competition, organised on Wednesday by the Lagos State Ministry of Education in Lagos.

Adebule particularly mentioned hooliganism, examination malpractices, rape, absenteeism and drug abuse as vices which had dire consequences in the future of youths, urging the students to avoid them.

She said the state government would continue to provide quality, accessible and affordable education to all residents, adding that students should keep abreast of current happenings around the world.

According to her, this was one way to broaden their minds, knowledge and become problem solvers.

She said that such knowledge would surely help students take informed decisions and respond to issues that affected them as individuals and as groups.

According to her, the quiz competition will help to deepen their knowledge, while they devote more time to academic pursuits necessary to excelling and being reliable keepers of tomorrow.

“This government is happy with the overt display of knowledge by our students in life sciences and technology, humanities and art.

“This competition is organised to broaden the horizon of students and encourage healthy rivalry among them.

“The world is now a global village and we must keep abreast with happenings all around the world to help us take informed decisions. We stand to learn from scientific, technological, social, economic and political developments in the world,” she said.

Also, Mrs Adebunmi Adekanye, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, said the government realised that such competition was essential to the education of students, hence it initiated it.

Adekanye said that students should also know their environment at the local, national and international levels aside the regular subjects offered in schools.

“With this quiz competition, we are updating the students, not just in book knowledge but also in current affairs and happenings, thereby making the students versatile in every aspect of their education, ” she said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the quiz competition which commenced in April was in three categories — the primary, Junior secondary and senior secondary schools.

Military Nursery and Primary School, Yaba, emerged first, Araromi Primary School, Gbagada came second, while Ajegunle Primary School, Apapa, was third in the primary school category.

In the junior secondary school category, Idimu Junior High School, Alimosho, won, Community Junior Secondary School, Debojo in Ajah came second, while Igbobi Junior High School, Somolu emerged third place winners.

Lagos State Senior Model College, Badagry came first, People Senior Grammar School, Epe was second and Vetland Senior Grammar School, Ifako-Ijaiye, third in the Senior School category. (NAN)

FCT High Court sitting in Gudu on Wednesday, rejected the application for bail filed by convicted former  governor of Taraba, Jolly Nyame.

The convict is seeking his release from prison on health grounds pending the determination of an appeal against his conviction.

Justice Adebukola Banjoko dismissed the application after listening to the arguments of both the defence and prosecution counsel.

Banjoko ruled that the application was ‘’unmeritorious’’, noting that “the medical reports presented to the court were conflicting and the dates on them are not corresponding with each other”.

She said that if indeed the convict needed any medical attention, he should apply to the Ministry of Interior, because the Prison authorities are under the ministry.

Nyame, who was not in court, was represented by his counsel, Olalekan Ojo who filed the application on his behalf.

Ojo had argued that his client was hypertensive and diabetic and, pending the determination of the appeal against his conviction, needed to have access to his “traditional herbal medicine”.

He said  Nyame  had  been living with these conditions for about 10 years now, and had met with rebuff after seeking permission from the Prison authorities to be administered herbal medicine.

He further told the court that a June 19 medical report issued by the Taraba State Hospital indicated that Nyame could lose his life if he was not released from Prison.

In support of the application, he presented medical reports to the Court, and the request letter to the prison officials.

“These exhibits are medical reports attached to the affidavit in support of the application,” Ojo said.

He  notified the court that the prison authorities disallowed him access to those who wanted to give him the herbal medicine.

He argued further that ill-health constituted “special and exceptional circumstances” to enable his client be granted bail after the conviction.

Prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, however, opposed the application for bail, arguing that Ojo failed to support his request with necessary materials.

“Mere medical reasons will not suffice to be granted bail after conviction, because Nyame as a convict has lost the right to medical facility of his choice,’’ he said.

Jacobs said further that Nyame has no choice than to accept the medical facility provided by the prison authorities.

He further argued that the issue of health could only come into account as an exceptional circumstance, “if the prison authorities say they are unable to provide the medical need of the convict”.

He added that the application lacked “a medical report by a medical practitioner who specialises in the area of medicine that concerns the ailment of the convict”.

Nyame was found guilty,convicted and sentenced to 14 years imprisonment by the same court on May 30, for misappropriating Taraba funds to the tune of N1.64 billion while in office.

He is currently serving his jail term in Kuje prison.(NAN)

SET/YAZ