The Niger State House of Assembly has issued an ultimatum to the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), insisting that the company must supply 18 hours of electricity or the state will seek alternative power supply sources. This development comes after members of the assembly invited the electricity distribution company to appear before the House two weeks ago to explain the reason for the erratic power supply to Niger State.
During a plenary session presided over by Deputy Speaker Afiniki Dauda, the lawmakers expressed their dissatisfaction with AEDC, accusing the company of breaching the contract agreement between it and the Niger State Government on the supply of power.
They conveyed their disappointment to the representative and Chief Operations Officer of AEDC, Chijioke Okwuokenye, who had previously met with Governor Mohammed Umar Bago to discuss the matter.
The lawmakers argued that AEDC has failed in its corporate social responsibility to the people of the state. They said, “There is no corporate social responsibility by AEDC in the state. Instead, it is the people that are contributing and even when the state government purchases electrical facilities, after installing them, the company will say it is their property. Where is their corporate social responsibility to the people of the state?”
As a result, the lawmakers unanimously adopted a motion stating that if the power distribution company fails to supply 18 hours of electricity, the contract between the state and the company will be terminated, and the state will be free to look elsewhere for another supplier. This decision underscores the lawmakers' commitment to ensuring reliable power supply for the people of Niger State.