By Onyinyechi Amakaulo/ Okey Alozie
It was a twist of stories on the floor of the Imo State House of Assembly when staff of the power generation company, the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, EEDC, responded to a summon by the state lawmakers.
In trying to offer a defense for the frequent poor power supply in the entire State, the EEDC officials blamed the Owelle Rochas Okorocha led government for obstacles being witnessed in the course of power supply even as the assembly members barked back to reprimand the power generation company staffers of making careless and reckless statements on the floor of the House.
Imo House of Assembly members poured venoms on Enugu Electricity Distribution officials for short changing and exploiting citizens of the State.
During the plenary session on Tuesday, the House members showed their anger on the Electricity Distribution Company, (EEDC), and threatened to arrest its officials for continuous exploiting and shortchanging of Imo residents.
Following a motion moved by member representing Aboh Mbaise State Constituency, Hon Mike Ihenatu and presented on the floor of the House on the issue of increasing, excessive billing system of Enugu Electricity Distribution Company of Nigeria, (EEDC), on consumers of electricity in Imo State, the officials of the company were invited.
The motion which stated that the National Electric Power Authority (NEPA), now the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), was created by Government Decree No 24 of 1972, and vested with the responsibility of power generation, transmission and mandated to maintain, coordinate an efficient and economic system of electricity supply for every part of the country, and inherited the sole functions of NEPA has the mandate to bill consumers of electricity in Imo State through the Electric Metre Billing System on the energy they generate and distribute to their customers, but has failed to discharge its duties as expected.
The team of officials of EEDC who were on the floor of the Assembly, revealed that the major cause of the poor power supply in Imo is the road expansion project which according to them has damaged their poles and transformers, thereby reducing their generation program.
The spokesman of the team, Mr Bolaji Simon blamed State government on this and insisted that the ongoing project is causing much harm to EEDC facilities.
The EEDC presentation annoyed the lawmakers as they fired back at the officials.
The Speaker, Rt Hon Dr Acho Ihim described the EEDC presentation as a serious indictment on the State government as he demanded immediate apology from the EEDC officials.
The House also resolved that EEDC should present the total money that if gets from Imo consumers on yearly bases and show evidence of tax that it pay coupled with its investment in the State.
Hon Uche Oguike who was more furious than other members informed the House that the EEDC spokesman, Mr Bolaji has nothing to offer since he cannot tell what his company stands for.
He moved a motion at this juncture that the House should ask Bolaji and his team to leave the House which was supported by others.
The Speaker who accepted this motion warned that EEDC company should not bring incompetent people to come as its representative again on matters connected to the state legislature.
He then declared that the MD of the company must be given letter to appear before the House as failure to do so will lead to his arrest.
He added that the House may change to another Power Distributing Company if EEDC cannot function well in the State.
