Headline

Protest, Unrest Looms As BEDC Disconnects UNIBEN From National Grid

Published

2 days ago

July 2, 2024

Editor

Students and staff of the University of Benin, UNIBEN, are sitting on the edge of provocation that could lead to unrest and strike over power outage in the school which has been on for over a month now.

The issue has now been compounded as the Benin Electricity Distribution Company, BEDC Plc, the power distribution company in Edo State, servicing the school, last week formally disconnected the school from its services as a result of non-payment of bills.

The reason behind the electricity crisis is attributed to the recent increase in electricity tariff for some categories of consumers as approved by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC ) which reportedly shot up the university’s monthly electricity bill from N80 million to over N250 million.

The non-availability of electricity on the campus is putting a strain on the students and staff as they, including lecturers, have resorted to using solar powered facilities including lights in their offices with others using generators.

The health centre at the Ugbowo campus is worst hit as health officials don’t have access to light from 10 pm when the three hours the school put on its generating set is exhausted daily and at times, workers on night duty use torchlights.

Strategic offices including the secretariat of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) run on generators and there is no substantive Students Union Government (SUG) since the union was disbanded after some of its officials invaded the Senior Staff Quarters when a governorship candidate was their guest, an action that was seen as an affront on the management and staff of the university by the students.

The students are at the mercy of the management of the school as at now.

The BEDC disconnected the university from its services following their inability to reach agreement over the contentious electricity billing.

The obvious implication is that staff cannot deliver on their work 100 percent “because it is only the administrative block that the generator can power throughout working hours” and the students cannot have a conducive environment to learn.

When contacted, the Head, Branding and Corporate Communications of BEDC, Mrs. Evelyn Gbiwen, attributed the increase in energy tariff to the directive of the NERC. “The new tariff system determines what ‘Band A’ customers would pay, there is nothing deliberate about any customer.

“It is a general policy that when customers don’t pay their bills, they will be disconnected. And it is when such a customer pays his bills that he would be reconnected,” she added.

The Public Relations Officer of the University, Mrs Beneditta Ehanire, when contacted said “Management is bending backwards really but will continue to sue for patience because everyone is tensed. Yesterday, a tanker was engaged to supply water to a hostel that had a water challenge.”

The statement the University issued a few weeks ago said the University paid the over eighty million Naira monthly bill up till April, 2024 in the two campuses of Ugbowo and Ekehuan.

“The delay to Pay the May bill is as a result of the disputed astronomically increased bill of over two hundred and fifty million naira, monthly, thrust on the University by BEDC.

“Despite the challenges, Management of the University has gone the length to ensure that students do not suffer unduly by providing generator light to all the hostels between the hours of 6am to 7am and 7pm to 10pm daily.

“Management appeals once again to staff and students to be patient and to demonstrate understanding of the situation as it is also exploring alternative power sources including solar energy.”

Headline

ACJL: CLEEN Foundation Organises Stakeholders Workshop On Parole System

Published

4 hours ago

July 4, 2024

Editor

In an effort to put in place a functional parole system in the Administration of Criminal Justice Laws (ACJL), in Edo State, a non-profit organisation – CLEEN Foundation, organised a two-day stakeholders workshop in Benin.

INFO DAILY reports that stakeholders were drawn from Civil Society Organisations; officials of Edo State government particularly Ministry of Justice; the police; Nigerian Bar Association (NBA); Nigerian Correctional Service (NSC) and human rights commission amongst others.

In his opening remarks, the Executive Director, CLEEN Foundation, Gad Peter, said the workshop was aimed at giving more insights into the parole system and how best to deepen and enhance the Administration of Justice.

“We want to drive advocacy for parole system and address the development that government has put in place to improve ACJS,” he said.

In the opening remarks read by Mrs. Blessing Abiri, Program Advisor, CLEEN Foundation, the Executive Director described the parole system as a critical component of the justice system.

He added that the workshop was geared towards addressing the gap in parole and ACJL.

Peter noted: “Parole reflects a balance between punitive measures and the need to rehabilitate, recognize and reform individuals that will bring positive change.

“It (Parole) is aimed at rehabilitating offenders and reintegrating them into the society as law abiding citizens.”

In his remarks, Attorney- General of Edo State who was represented by Mrs. Stella Okojie, a Director in the ministry, said Section 468 of CJS in the State specifically made provisions for parole.

The Attorney-General disclosed that the government has acquired land for State-owned correctional centres as part of efforts geared towards deepening administration of justice.

Headline

FULL LIST: Lagos Gets 13 New Band A Feeders

Published

8 hours ago

July 4, 2024

Editor

Lagos State has been bolstered with 13 additional Band A feeders, following approval from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission.

The Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company announced that the upgrade was granted due to their consistent provision of at least 20 hours of daily electricity.

“Premised on our demonstrated ability to consistently provide for a minimum of 20 hours of daily during a performance evaluation period monitored by the regulator, we are pleased to announce that we have obtained approval to add 13 Band Feeders to our network,” a statement on IKEDC’s Twitter handle read on Wednesday.

The upgraded feeders include – OgbaINJ-T3-Agege, AlimoshoINJ-T8-Okunola, OworoINJ-T3-Anthony, AdeniyiJonesINJ-T1-Anifowoshe, and IsheriINJ-T1-Bankole.

IBEDC disconnects Ogun industrial estate, others over debts
Others are, EjigboTCN-Igando, EjigboTCN-Ijegun, IkoroduTCN-Fakale, Maryland INJ-T1-Ketu, OjoduINJ- T1-King Avenue, OdungunyanINJ-T1-Agodo and T1-IjuINJ-T1- Ajuwon..

This upgrade increases IKEDC’s total feeders to 141 from 128.

Meanwhile, NERC has warned DisCos of sanctions if they fail to complete the STS meter migration by July 31, 2024.

Headline

JUST IN: FG Raises Mining Rates by 50 Per Cent

Published

8 hours ago

July 4, 2024

Editor

The Federal Government through the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development has raised the dues and rates paid by operators in the mining sector.

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, announced the price increase at an ongoing press conference at the ministry headquarters on Thursday in Abuja.

He said the government increased a total of 286 rate regimes ranging from 50 per cent to 100 per cent adding that compliance begins immediately.

He also warned that defaulters will have their licenses revoked.

The minister said the review was necessary due to the paucity of funds repatriated to the coffers of the government by operators.

He said the new increase will also assist the ministry enhance the ease of doing business in the sector.

FG to revoke land titles of owners with illegal miners
Alake added that relevant stakeholders were involved in deciding the new rates adding that all parties unanimously accepted the increase.

He said, “It is therefore equitable that those who use these services to invest in the mining sector and make profits from it should be on the frontlines of the government’s efforts to recoup rather than pass it to poor Nigerians.

“Thus, in line with the powers conferred on me by the Mining and Minerals Act 2007, I set up a committee of the directors of departments and directors-general of agencies under the ministry and charged them with the mandate to work out new rates to justify governments’ investment in the service infrastructures and to cope with the expected meteoric spike in the traffic of applicants besieging the regulatory machinery.

“Today we are taking a significant step in efforts to implement the seven-point agenda to reposition the sector and international competitiveness by announcing a new regime of rates and charges for various services, departments and agencies.

“This is given qualitative measures and technological capacity upgrades implemented in recent times to raise the level of technical efficiency and improve the traffic of transactions and cope with business interest.”