House Speaker Gbajabiamila pledges to end estimated electricity billing system

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has hinted that the lower chamber of the National Assembly will ensure that Nigerians get adequate supply for the electricity they pay for.

Speaking when he received management team of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) during a visit to his office in Abuja, Gbajabiamila said it was the House’s responsibility to make life easier for Nigerians.

He frowned on the practice of estimated billing by electricity distribution companies (DisCos), assuring that the House would not tolerate a situation where DisCos take advantage to present outrageous bills to Nigerians, hence the resolve by members to revisit the issue and enact a law that would end estimated billing.

“The issue of estimated billing has been in the front burner. It has been in this House and we will revisit it soon. We can’t allow the DisCos to continue to do what they have been doing over the years.

“You said DisCos need to be recapitalised, I don’t know what you mean by that. These are private companies. Do you mean that the government should come in? Maybe you should explain more on that,” he said.

Commending the current management of TCN led by its Managing Director, Malam U. G. Mohammed, Gbajabiamila tasked them to work closely with the House and relevant committees to achieve its goals.

He called for a periodic review of the performance of DisCos, saying the House would do everything within its powers to ensure that TCN delivers on its mandate to Nigerians.

Earlier in his presentation, Mohammed said the company has been repositioned since the current management took over, saying some of the challenges have to do with the DisCos, noting that there has been no investment in the companies and that they need $4.3 billion investment for optimal capacity.

He also noted that the past management of TCN under Manitoba did not perform well in the four years it managed the company, as it was enmeshed in several challenges, including non-audited accounts for the period.