…As TCN allay fears of blackout
Oscarline Onwuemenyi
22 April 2016, Sweetcrude, Abuja – The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) has announced plans to spend $200 million on mass metering of customers in its franchise area of the FCT, Kogi, Niger and Nassarawa States, over a five-year period, beginning from this year.
The Managing Director of AEDC, Mr Neil Croucher, disclosed this yesterday when he met with members of the National Union of Electricity Employees’ (NUEE) during a familiarisation visit by its new national leadership at the company’s corporate headquarters in Abuja.
Croucher solicited the support of NUEE in getting Nigerians to embrace the new tariff regime, noting that opposition of the new tariff by organised labour was not in the interest of the country.
He stressed that the tariff adjustment was intended to stimulate investments that would improve power supply nationwide adding that the challenges of transforming the power sector in Nigeria will require innovation, flexibility and respect for each other by all stakeholders.
Commending the company on the ongoing transformation which has led to significant improvements in its network, information systems and operational processes, NUEE President, Comrade Martins Uzoegwu, said the union appreciates the efforts of the current management to put the company on growth path, adding that the union will continue to engage with the AEDC.
Also remarking, the union’s general secretary, Comrade Joe Ajaero while noting the improvements recorded so far by the company, said, “We want you to do more in terms of staff welfare. Although we’re not here for a negotiation but for interaction, we’re urging you to do more so that you can motivate your staff further to ensure that the company achieves better results.”
Meanwhile, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has has allayed fears over looming power outage due to labour issues, saying staff in its regional offices nationwide, who are responsible for the actual wheeling of bulk electricity, are at their duty posts, ensuring that electricity generated by power generating stations is seamlessly transmitted to distribution load centres nationwide.
In a statement signed by its general manager, Public Affairs, Seun Olagunju, TCN explained that the on-going labour issues affect administrative work only at its corporate headquarters in Abuja, adding that the company’s ability to carry out its core duty of wheeling bulk electricity is not in any way hampered.