Abia State House of Assembly lawmakers move to end arbitrary electricity billing

The Abia State House of Assembly commenced plenary after the adoption of the Votes and Proceedings of Monday, 16th November, 2020, as a working document.

NOTICE OF PRESENTATION OF BILL

(1)  H.A.B 35: The Abia Roads Maintenance Authority for the Local Government Areas of the State Bill, 2020 (A Bill for a Law to Provide for the Establishment, Operation and Function of the Abia Roads maintenance Authority for the Local Government Areas of the State and for other Matters Related therewith) sponsored by the Leader, Hon. Solomon Akpulonu.

With the motion of the Leader, the Bill passed First Reading.

(2) H.A.B 36: The Abia State Watershed Management Agency Bill, 2020 (A Bill for a Law to Provide for the Establishment,  Operation and Function of the Abia State Watershed Management Agency and for other Matters Connected therewith) sponsored by the Majority Leader, Hon Solomon Akpulonu.

With the Motion of the Leader,  the Bill passed its First Reading.

ORDER OF THE DAY

(3) H.A.M 10: MOTION ON THE NEED TO END ARBITRARY ELECTRICITY BILLING IN ABIA STATE sponsored by the Deputy Minority Leader,  Hon. Chukwu Chijioke.

Whereas it is a well known fact that the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) is charged with the responsibility of distributing electricity to the five South Eastern States which Abia is part of

Whereas it is known that the masses have the option of migrating to prepaid services as opposed to the post- paid services of the EEDC which have been in existence from the days of Nigerian Electric Power Authority (NEPA)

Whereas it has been observed that staff of EEDC no longer deem it necessary to read the postpaid meters to ascertain the actual consumption rate of consumers before issuing electricity bills, resulting in the arbitrary billing being experienced in Abia

And Whereas it has been discovered that Abians pay higher electricity tariff compared to people in sister States, which has led to disindustralization in Abia due to the high tariff payable in the state,

Mr Speaker, Honourable Colleagues

I hereby pray this Honourable House to resolve as follows:

(1) That the EEDC manager in charge of the state be invited to the House to give explanations as to why there is no uniform billing system in the South East

(2) That the EEDC management be urged to ensure that the prepaid metres are made available to all those who need and have applied for them

(3) That the EEDC should adjust the tariff charged on Abians to be uniform with what is charged in other sister States

After series of contributions by Lawmakers, the House resolved as Follows:

(1) That the House do invite the Manager of EEDC in charge of Abia State to give explanations as to why there is no uniform billing System in Abia with other states covered by the company

(2) That EEDC Management ensure that prepaid metres and transformers are made available to those that have applied for them

(4) Presentation of the Report of the House Committee on Energy and Solid Minerals, and Science and Technology on addressing SETRACO  and Mamry Companies’ Injustices and Inhumane Acts against Ogwahia Community  in Uturu, Isuikwuato Local Government Area.

The House Committee Chairman, Hon. Chukwu Chijioke while presenting the report said the committee discovered that SETRACO has operated in the community for 17years without any good road in the community to show for it.

That there is no potable water in the community.

 That the recklessness of the truck drivers has caused a lot of accidents among other findings.

RECOMMENDATIONS

(1) That SETRACO should be alive to its Corporate Social Responsibilities

(2) That the company should provide employment for the qualified members of the community

(3) That the company should ensure that employment opportunities be extended to the members of their host communities among others.

With the Motion of the Leader, the House adopted the Report as a working Document.

The Speaker, Rt Hon. Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji committed the report to the House Committee of the Whole for further consideration on a future legislative date.

COMMITEE OF THE WHOLE.

The House dissolved into the Committee of the Whole and considered the following:

(5) Reports of the House Committee on Public Accounts, Anti Corruption and Due Process on the 2017 Audit Reports on the Accounts of the 17 Local Government Councils  and Education Authorities of Abia State.

(6) Report of the House Committee on Trade and Investment on H.A.B 6: A Bill For A Law to Establish the Abia State Consumer Protection Agency and other Matters Connected therewith.

(7)  Report of the House Committee on Appropriation on H.A.B 18: The Abia State of Nigeria 2020 Local Government Councils Appropriation Bill for a Bye-Law .

(8) Considered H.A.B 4: A Bill for a Law to Establish the Abia State University Teaching Hospital and for other Matters Connected therewith.

(9) H.A.B 16: A Bill for a Law to Establish an Agency for Free Home Healthcare Services for the Elderly and for other  Related Purposes.

PASSED INTO LAW.

(1) H.A.B 18: The Abia State of Nigeria 2020 Local Government Councils Appropriation Bill for  Bye-Law.

(2) H.A.B 4: Abia State University Teaching Hospital Bill

(3) H.A.B 16: Abia State Agency for Free Home Healthcare Services for the Elderly and for other Related Purposes.

(4) H.A.B 6: Abia State Consumer Protection Agency and other Matters Connected therewith.

The House Also cleared  the 2017 Audit Reports on the account of the 17 Local Government Councils and Education Authorities of Abia State.

ADJOURNMENT:

With the Motion of the Leader, the Abia State House of Assembly adjourned its plenary to resume on the 23rd of November, 2020 at 10am.

Courtesy:  Media Unit, Office of the Speaker, Abia State House Of Assembly.