Where is the light, a movement dedicated to the protection of electricity consumers’ rights, has called for the reversal of privatisation policy regarding the provision of electricity in Nigeria.
The movement said the electricity power industry should be returned to public ownership and under democratic control and management of workers and consumers.
The group made the call on Wednesday at a press conference held in Lagos.
The essence of the call, the group said, was to ensure regular supply of light without the exploitation of the consumers.
Other demands of the group are the reversal of the present tariff to N21 kwh and no to further increment in electricity tariff.
The group also called for the issuance of metres to all Nigerian consumers.
“No prepaid metres, no payment of bills by consumers,” the group charged.
Additional demands made by the group include:
“An end to extortionist policy that forces and arm-twists communities to procure electricity facilities (transformers, poles, aluminium conductors etc) and hand over ownership to the Discos.
“Cancellation of all debts accumulated through previous crazy and fraudulent billing.
“Massive public investment in the power sector to guarantee uninterrupted power supply to all Nigerians including those that are yet to be connected to the national grid.
“We demand the immediate release of all consumers being held in police stations and correctional centres, or being prosecuted on cases of avoidable clashes with DISCOs. Peaceful negotiation and resolution should be the way out.
“We demand a life insurance policy for TCN, GENCO and DISCOs’ workers that are regularly exposed to technical danger and mass anger in the course of performing their dangerous duty. We also demand a living wage to be paid to electricity workers and workers in general.
“Refund and compensation paid to all consumers that have been overbilled and underserved since this privatization fraud started.”
The group also called on Nigerians to join and be active in its activities with the aim of ending exploitation.
It also called on CDAs, community associations, pro-labour groups to intensify mobilisation of Nigerians in their respective communities in the area of ending the exploitation of the masses.
“We appeal for the unity of Nigerians irrespective of tribe, religion and geography to be able to resist this exploitation and rescue the power from further collapse.
“We call on the leaders of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to pull out of the ongoing discussion/negotiation with the government and the power companies and join in the mobilisation of Nigerian workers and the masses, in general, to resist the ongoing rip-off and end this avoidable darkness.”
