‘DISCOs profiteering through fraud’

The Trade Union Congress (TUC) says the electricity distribution companies (DISCOs) are exploiting Nigerians and profitering by fraud.

TUC President, Mr Bobboi Kaigama who led a delegation on a courtesy visit to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Tuesday noted that the telecommunication operators brought funds, expertise, service delivery and competition in their business which Nigerians were happy about, pointing out that the sole aim of the DISCOS ‘is profiteering through
fraud.’

According to him, the DISCOs have failed to implement their own part of the contract as poor electricity supply and non- availability of meters are being experienced nationwide.

“We expect the presidency to issue a categorical statement affirming a return to status quo ante regarding the unit price of electricity,” Kaigama declared.

The TUC also mpressed on the Federal Government the need to upwardly review the current N18,000 minimum wage as well reversal of the sale of the electricity distribution companies to the current management.
While making a case for a new minimum wage, the TUC boss said the National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act 2011 would be five years old in March.

Citing a provision of the International Labour Organisation’s Minimum Wage Fixing Convention 131 of 1970, an Ad Hoc Committee which stipulates that the minimum wage should be reviewed after every five years, Kaigama said an increased minimum wage has become inevitable in view of the current economic realities.

Read also: DISCOs dare court, Senate over electricity tariff hike

He also urged the Federal Government to reverse the sale of the electricity distribution companies (DISCOs), stressing that the current operators had demonstrated lack of will, capacity and competence to invest in the power sector and provide power to consumers.

According to him, the current increase in electricity tariff is ‘anti-people’ as he described the Act of the National Assembly empowering the electricity regulator the unilateral power to increase the tariff as ‘very lame, too simplistic and misleading.”

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