By Chioma Obinagwam
Nigerians have taken to Twitter to express their concerns over the press release, tittled: “NERC COMMITTED TO PROTECTING CUSTOMERS” posted on the official Twitter handle of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) on Wednesday.
Although extracts of the release stated that poor and vulnerable Nigerians will not experience any increase, there seem to be some air of doubts among Nigerians.
A Twitter user known as Adio Gabriel Jesuseun spotted an error in the press statement issued by the electricity regulator which bothers on the absence of date on the statement.
He said: “Why is the press release not dated?
I also doubt if DISCOs are been monitored or regulated coz @aedcelectricity leave so many customers in gidan kwano minna dissatisfied! We barely get two hours of electricity per day and whenever we complain, they claim we don’t pay.”
Why is the press release not dated?
I also doubt if DISCOs are been monitored or regulated coz @aedcelectricity leave so many customers in gidan kwano minna dissatisfied! We barely get two hours of electricity per day and whenever we complain, they claim we don't pay.— Adio Gabriel Jesuseun (@Jesusheun_) August 26, 2020
According to Wikipedia, a press release should consists of a dateline.
“Dateline – contains the release date and usually the originating city of the press release,” it explained.
Corroborating, another Twitter user, Detola Ogunyomi said, ” They would not date the press release, because they intend to daylight rob customers. They are thief.”
They would not date the press release, because they intend to daylight rob customers. They are thief
— detola ogunyomi (@detolaogunyomi) September 1, 2020
Lamenting, Olu of Naija said,” NERC is the most terrible regulator we have in this country, look at the awkward press release. This same terrible NERC ended estimated billings since March 2020 and introduce CAPMI since march 2020, and the Discos have refused to implement CAPMI, no sanctions against the Discos.”
NERC is the most terrible regulator we have in this country, look at the awkward press release. This same terrible NERC ended estimated billings since March 2020 and introduce CAPMI since march 2020, and the Discos have refused to implement CAPMI, no sanctions against the Discos
— Olu Of Naija (@oluofnaija) August 27, 2020
According to NERC, Credited Advance Payment for Metering Implementation – CAPMI came about due to the slow pace of customer metering by the DISCOs, as well as the high level of complaints received from customers and dissatisfaction with the current estimated billing practices.
“CAPMI provides a platform for willing customers to pay the cost of the meter into a dedicated account jointly managed by the DISCO and meter Vendor/Installer. Once payment has been effected, the customer will have their meter installed within 45 days, by a NERC accredited Vendor/Installer,” the electricity regulator explained in a statement.
The Nigerian power sector has been plagued with corruption since it was first privatised in 1999.
Although successive governments have made frantic efforts to eliminate the menace, there seem to be more work left undone.
