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FG May Revoke DisCos’ Licenses For Poor Performance – Minister

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FG May Revoke DisCos’ Licenses For Poor Performance – Minister

The Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, has attributed failure in electricty supply to Distribution Companies’ (DisCos) poor performance, stressing that FG may revocate some licenses after review.

Stating that the Federal Government Executive Council will decide the fate of the DisCos, after reviewing the memo on their performance, the Minister lamented that Power supply has failed to improve in the country in spite of the promise by successive governments since 1999 and the privatization of the sector in 2013.

Nation reports that the Minister said DisCos have failed to meet up with their obligations while the government is no longer willing to continue subsidising them.

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He said “Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the German government and Siemens. They are to align between distribution, transmission and generation so that if we generate 13,000 megawatts, transmission will take the whole 13,000 and will distribute same. That way, Nigerians will be happy and everyone will have 24/7 electricity supply.”

“The DisCos are manning the distribution that is why I have submitted my observations to the government. It is left for the government to decide. We just have to sit and see whether they are capable, have the technical know-how because most of the problems we are having today is technical and commercial losses.

“They will give you electricity and may not collect your money or they will collect the money and pocket, or they may send electricity and you may not have good sub-station that may collect this power and distribute to customers. This has been our major problem and it is the responsibility of the DisCos to take care of that end”.

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“Government cannot continue subsiding because what they (DisCos) are doing is that they collect 3,000 megawatts and pay for only 1,000 megawatts, that is 15 per cent of what they are collecting, so government is the one completing the payment. We cannot continue like that.

“If they are ready to continue, fine but if they are not ready to continue maybe they should give way to whoever that is ready to come and invest. We are asking the government to review and see if they are capable, but if they are not capable, they should give way.

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“Most of the problems we are facing in this country that we cannot get electricity supplied adequately and efficiently is because we have a problem in distribution. Generation, no more problem.

“We can generate up to 13,000 megawatts, but the transmission, those who are taking the electricity supply can only take 7,000 megawatts, even at that they are not taking the whole 7,000 megawatts but only 4,500 megawatts and then send to distribution. The distribution in turn receives only 3,000 megawatts. Because of technical and commercial reasons, they cannot contain the entire power that has been generated.

“So, we have to correct the infrastructure. That is why I said that today, I submitted my observation to council and I believe the government is on it.”

On the financial interventions the government had made so far in the power sector, Mamman said: “If they are ready to continue, fine, but if they are not ready to continue maybe they should give way to whoever is ready to come and invest.

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“We are asking government to review and see if they are capable but if they are not capable they should give way”, he added.

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DisCos in the country are: Ikeja Electric, Benin DisCo, Abuja DisCo, Kano DisCo, Port Harcourt DisCo, Ibadan DisCo, Enugu DisCo, Eko DisCo, Jos DisCo, and Kaduna DisCo and Yola DisCo which is now in the hands of government.

(NATION)

PHOTO: File

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JUST IN: Soldiers Bar Journalists As Delta Gov Visits Troubled Community

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Four days after the killings of military officers and civilians in the Okuama community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, on Monday, visited the troubled community to assess the extent of the destruction.

The military Joint Task Force, however, barred journalists from covering the governor’s assessment tour of the troubled community.

The JTF operatives barricaded the major entries to Okuama with an armoured personnel carrier tank, thus preventing vehicular and human traffic, including media men, from gaining access to the community.

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But Oborevwori, who was received by the leader of the military JTF, General Officer Commanding 6 Division Nigeria Army, Major General Jamaal Abdulsalam.

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They went for a closed-door meeting that lasted for about one hour.

Details later…

 

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JUST IN: SSANU, NASU Begin Strike, Ground Varsities

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Members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities and the Non-Academic Staff Union have begun a nationwide strike today (Monday) over alleged unfair treatment and disparity in the payment of salaries by the Federal Government.

Last Monday, the unions threatened to shut down hostels and power supply in universities across the country if the Federal Government fails to meet its demands before today, March 18, 2024.

National President of SSANU, Muhammed Ibrahim, said his members, including Vice Chancellors, registrars, and bursars, have not been paid 2022 arrears.

On Sunday, Ibrahim informed The PUNCH that the two unions were set for their nationwide strike.

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Meanwhile, the Minister for Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, stated that he was unaware of SSANU/NASU’s planned strike.

However, during the Channels Television’s Morning Show programme, Ibrahim declared that the strike had started.

“Definitely, it (the strike) has already started.

“As of today (Monday), all our workers in registry, bursary, works and maintenance, security, and students’ affairs have withdrawn their services and nothing moves within the administration of any public university in Nigeria and that will be the case for the next seven days until and unless the needful is done,” he stated.

The SSANU president stressed that no government representative has reached out to the non-academic unions, noting that though some have reached out unofficially, their assurances cannot be taken to the bank.

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He wondered why some government officials would not fully comply with President Bola Tinubu’s instruction to pay 2022 arrears.

He added that the Minister of Labour, Nkiruka Onyejeocha, has not reached out to the aggrieved unions despite issuing a seven-day notice last Monday.

This, he said was a departure from the responsiveness of the ex-Labour Minister Chris Ngige.

He stressed that the unions would go back to their toolbox and decide the next line of action should the government fail to heed the unions’ demands after the seven-day warning strike, which commenced today.

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UNIBEN Students Urged To Aspire For Best As Faculty Gets Solar Power System

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An Alumnus of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Mr. Chidozie Obiorah has charged undergraduate students in the institution to aspire for the best life can offer regardless of their discipline/course of study in their academic pursuit.

He made the remark while admonishing students during the 3rd Almunus Lecture Series of Faculty Life Sciences, University of Benin with the theme: “Fortunate Me: Fortunate You: From the Lab to Global Oil and Gas Leader.”

Obiorah advised students who could not study their preferred courses at the university, not to feel unhappy and unlucky, but should remain resilient and see beyond the opportunities around them by
keeping faith in their ability to succeed.

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Obiorah, who is also a Global Manager, Health, Safety, Security and Environment, Shell International, said the lecture was to create a platform and motivate students that no matter the course of study, they can still make a difference in the society if they can believe in hardwork, noting that hardwork pays.

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The speaker who studied Zoology at the University of Benin, emphasized the need for hardwork and focus to make it in the society.

Obiorah said: “The lecture was to provide a platform and to motivate students that all hope is not lost. No matter what you study, you can bring your own part in the equation to deliver progress for yourself and for Nigeria as a country.”

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On his part, Chairman, Organising Committee 3rd Almunus Lecture Series of Faculty Life Sciences, University of Benin, Prof. Anthony Ogbeibu said the event was to inspire and to bring alumni who have made significant impacts in their chosen career so that students can be encouraged.

The 3rd lecture climaxed with the unveiling of inverted Solar system for alterntative source of power donated by Monica Okeoghene Otagbe in the Department of Plant, Biology and Biotechnology Laboratory Science and financial support for indigent students.

Head, Department of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, Prof. Dennis Vwioko,the Dean of Faculty of Life Sciences, Prof Jerry Orhue, accompanied by the guest lecturer and students joined in the unveiling of the inverted Solar system procured for the faculty.

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