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How FCCPC Solved My Over N600,000 Estimated Billing By JEDC – Consumer

Published

3 months ago

February 25, 2024

Editor

An electricity consumer in Bauchi state, Abubakar Yusuf has recounted how his estimated billing problems with the Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JEDC) was resolved within a couple of days by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC)

Yusuf, who is also a Professor from the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) Bauchi, said he had an estimated billing of over N600,000 and was being charged N90,000 to N95,000 monthly.

He disclosed this on Saturday at the end of a four-day one stop-shop for addressing billing, metering, transformer, connection, disconnection, customer service and other electricity consumer issues in JEDC coverage areas organized by FCCPC in Bauchi.

“My complaint was so serious and when I came here, I was attended to quickly. I went through the guidelines, filled the forms and they interviewed me. In fact, I was receiving a huge amount of energy bills and it kept increasing every month to the extent that I was being charged over N600,000 outstanding bills.

“I received about N90,000 to N95,000 monthly. So, when I complained here, they quickly went through my record, do you know they finally asked me to pay to clear my account? Just about N50,000.

“This is so excellent, I never thought that something like this could happen in Nigeria. I am so impressed and I want to encourage everyone that has similar problems to come and complain to this FCCPC,” he said.

The Professor, who commended the federal government for the establishment of the commission and its commitment in solving people’s problems in energy related matters, said he is now a satisfied customer of electricity service.

Also speaking, Honourable Tanko Dutse, who could not hide his happiness said that the FCCPC had opened people’s eyes to the fact that they have rights over issues of electricity distribution and consumption.

He said: “Many people don’t know that they have a right because they assume it is still the decree during military rule that NEPA are always right and that you cannot challenge them.

“But with this commission and what they are doing to people and especially myself, I’m very impressed and happy with how they solved my problem.

“I had wanted to instigate a legal action against the JEDC that I deserve to have electricity without any obstruction before I got to know about this commission. I came and they resolved the matter and right now, I’m so happy and grateful to the federal government for this laudable commission.”

Dutse however, urged the commission to intensify awareness campaigns through the media so that a lot of people would get to know about the commission and what they do.

Earlier, Mr Adamu Abdullah, Acting Executive Chairman, FCCPC said that the one stop-shop is held in all zones of the country to gather complaints of consumers in supply and distribution of power, banking and aviation and proffer possible solutions to them.

He said this is because the mandate of the commission is to protect the interests of consumers across the country.

“Electricity Services consumers have come and reported to us that they are not satisfied with the services, so we decided to intervene.

“The complaints have to do with estimated billing, supply of meters, communities in which they pull resources to buy infrastructure materials like transformers, wires, poles and were still charged to pay for the installation apart from buying the materials themselves.

“These are issues we have discussed with the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission since we have an MoU. So, if we find out that there is any customer that comes to report that something beyond his cap has been charged to his meter, we have to sit down with the DISCO and resolve it,” He said.

News

JUST IN: Confusion As DSS Invades Ogun Court, Arrests Defendants Despite Judge’s Warning

Published

48 mins ago

May 14, 2024

Editor

The men of the Department of State Services have invaded an Ogun State High Court sitting in Ilaro and arrested two defendants despite the judge’s warning.

The court was presided over by Justice AA Shobayo on Tuesday.

The defendants, who were simply identified as Alhaji Isiaka Fatai and Samuel Oyero, were tried in a suit marked HCP/IC/2023 between the State vs Awode Oladosu & 13 others.

The case was reported to be a result of a crisis that recently broke out in the Agosasa community in the Ipokia Local Government Area of the state over an Obaship tussle which led to the destruction of property worth billions of naira and loss of life.

Meanwhile, when the hearing was ongoing, operatives of the DSS stormed the court premises and took away the suspects.

Confirming the incident to Daily Trust, Counsel to Alhaji Isiaka, Kehinde Bamiwola, in a statement, alleged that men of the DSS operatives used weapons on the two, stressing that “Alhaji Isiaka Fatai was beaten, slapped, man-handled, rough-handled and molested.”

Corroborating Bamiwola’s claim, the Principal Registrar of the High Court and Sectional Head of High Court, Ilaro, Omololu Olusanya, confirmed the incident, describing it as shocking and disrespectful to the rule of law.

He stressed that even after the judge had ordered the operatives not to make any arrest within the court premises, they still proceeded to arrest the two persons.

“They still went ahead and did the act to the extent that they assaulted one of our staff members, Mrs Fadina, while doing that act. It’s a very sad issue that caused a lot of noise within the court premises.

“It was from the source that we heard they were DSS agents. If anybody sees them, one would think they were armed robbers.

Olusanya further said that their appearance was far from being identified as DSS agents, adding, “They did not wear anything that identified them as DSS, but they came to my lord this morning and said they had some people to arrest. That was when we knew they were DSS officers.

“They approached the judge before the court session began. The honourable judge advised them that if they wanted to make an arrest, it must not be done within the court premises.

“They could stay outside and do whatever they wanted, but they refused that advice and carried out the arrest within the premises,” he said.

However, when contacted, the spokesman for the DSS, Peter Afunanya, did not answer calls or reply to text messages sent as of the time of filing this report.

News

Man Arrested For Invading Plateau Bank With Bomb

Published

1 hour ago

May 14, 2024

Editor

A yet-to-be-identified man has been apprehended for possessing a bomb on the premises of a bank in Dadin Kowa town in the Jos South area of Plateau State.

It was gathered that immediately it was discovered that a bomb was in the suspect’s possession, an alarm was raised, and he was quickly pinned down to avert a tragedy.

According to a post by security analyst Zagazola Makama on X on Tuesday, the vigilante security at the bank prevented the attack when they spotted the suspect.

Upset by the development, an angry mob descended on the suspect and reportedly demanded that he should be killed.

The suspect was later handed over to the police for proper investigation.

A picture attached to Makama’s post showed that the bomb was strapped around the suspect’s belly.

It is, however, unclear if the suspect had been linked to any terrorist organisation in the country.

Details later…

News

BREAKING: Niger Speaker Halts Wedding Plans For 100 Orphans

Published

2 hours ago

May 14, 2024

Editor

The Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Abdulamlik Sarkindaji, has stopped the planned hosting of the wedding of 100 orphan girls in his constituency, saying he would not grace the occasion.

Sarkindaji took the decision following the action of the Women Affairs Minister, Uju Ohannaya, who dragged the Speaker to court to halt the wedding.

The Speaker made this known on Tuesday during a media briefing in which he said the minister had overstepped her bounds.

He said the minister should take over the sponsorship of the wedding ceremony.

The Speaker disclosed that he had already made funds available to the girls’ parents through the traditional leaders and clerics of his constituency, noting that he would not withdraw the funds.

Abdulmalik also pointed out that his motive for wanting to sponsor the wedding was the state of poverty of the girls’ parents and not the constituency project, as reported in the media.

Details later…