Quit if you can’t reduce tariff – NLC tells DISCOs

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has urged DISCO or GENCO operating in the country to immediately effect the directive of the NASS on tariff reduction or should honorably surrender its possessory and proprietary rights to government if they do not have the requisite capacity.

The Congress in a statement by its president, Ayuba Wabba, said while it is ready to submit itself to the ongoing intervention process at the NASS, it will not allow any one to take the people of this country for a ride any more.

The Congress condemned recent statement credited to former chairman of NERC, Amadi who described the directive of the Senate as “illegal, unconstitutional and a direct encroachment on the executive independence” and that NERC as presently constituted cannot suspend or rescind the decision by the previous NERC Commission.

The statement by Wabba reads in part, “Dr Amadi is being economical with the truth and his legal knowledge. The duties of the Legislature as defined by the constitution include legislation, oversight and investigation. Beside this, elementary knowledge of the Social Sciences tells us that independence of the three arms of government in a liberal democracy is a coordinate one. Even if it were absolute, such independence cannot be in pursuance of criminality, fraud or injustice.
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“Secondly, we find it disgusting that Dr Amadi could only remember the independence of the Executive and not that of the Judiciary which gave an earlier order and still subsisting that no increment be made until the determination of the substantive case.

“Flowing from the breach of this order, a contempt proceeding against NERC is on in court but Amadi will have none of this.”

Wabba called on the relevant agencies to probe not just the tenure of Amadi at NERC but the entire privatisation process of the power sector which he stage-managed.

“We are also keen to know his relationship with some of the DISCOs for whom he has become chief spokesman.

“We also demand that if any DISCO or GENCO does not have the requisite capacity, it should honorably surrender its possessory and proprietary rights to government as was the case with the Yola Electricity Company. The Yola Company was honourable enough and reasons adduced by it, genuine,” he said.