Abia Assembly, Reps member fight dirty over EEDC’s free prepaid metre installation

[From BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia]

Abia State House of Assembly and the member representing Ikwuano/Umuahia North/Umuahia South Federal Constituency, Chief Sam Onuigbo, appear to be battling over who takes the credit for the ongoing installation of free pre-paid metres by the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) in Umuahia, Abia State.

According to the EEDC Network Manager, Mr Ozoezeh Onyebuchi, the company was targeting to distribute the meters to between 10,000 and 15,000 households in Abia State before the end of the year.

The free prepaid metres installation began in Umuahia on July 19, 2021, barely two weeks after the House of Assembly had summoned EEDC and Nigeria Energy Regulation Commission (NERC) on July 5, 2021 to explain their activities to the Abia Lawmakers.

The resolution to invite the EEDC and NERC officials was made by the Abia House of Assembly sequel to numerous complaints by Consumers over huge bills emanating from estimated billings.  

As the state lawmakers intervened to save Abians from the bloated electricity bills by getting the electricity distribution company provided prepaid metres for Abia residents, Onuigbo was also working from the Green Chambers of the National Assembly to ameliorate the plight of his constituents by urging EEDC to include Abia in its prepaid metres distribution schedule.

Onuigbo’s intervention was via a letter he wrote to EEDC Managing Director on April 30, 2021, through the Chairman, House Committee on Power.

In the said letter, Onuigbo was said to have complained that Abia State was not included in EEDC’s prepaid metres distribution plan and pressed for Abia’s inclusion.

The Chairman, House Committee on Power, Hon. Engineer Magaji Da’u Aliyu, acting on Onuigbo’s complaint, reportedly wrote to EEDC on May 20, 2021, urging the latter to immediately extend the distribution of metres to Abia State residents “in order to enhance accountable services while eliminating the phenomenon of estimated Billings.”

To this end, Onuigbo commended EEDC for heeding to his call when the company commenced the ongoing free prepaid metres installation in Umuahia on July 19.

However, the Abia Assembly did not take kindly to Onuigbo’s claims. It described the federal lawmaker as a “glory hunter.”  

The House, while commending EEDC through the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Uchendu,

for commencing installation of free prepaid metres for residents of Umuahia,

 assured that the House under the Leadership of the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji, would continue to carry out her legislative (oversight) functions for the betterment of Abians and other residents of the state.

The Deputy Speaker who doubles as the House Committee Chairman on Information and Communication,  however, cautioned “those who are in the habit of discrediting the State Assembly for their own selfish interests to desist from such practices” and concentrate on better ways of serving those who elected them into power.

“The Abia State House of Assembly has been on the neck of the EEDC to ensure that Abians get value for their money. Abians should beware of Glory Hunters who are only waiting on the sideline to take credits for the efforts of the State Assembly,” Uchendu said, in veiled reference to Onuigbo’s claim of working to bring EEDC to install prepaid metres in Umuahia.

He assured that the State House of Assembly would invite EEDC again when it resumes from its current break to brief her on the progress made so far in the installation of the free prepaid meters.

It could be recalled that the State House of Assembly had on June 16, through a motion sponsored by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Chinedum Orji, berated the power distribution company over her activities in the state bordering on poor supply of electricity, as well as her estimated billing system that has given birth to huge electricity tariff charges in the state.