Edo Assembly summons electric company over estimated bills

Mrs Funke Oshibodu, Managing Director of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC), has been summoned by Edo State House of Assembly.

Funke Osibodu, Chief Executive Officer, BEDC

The Speaker of the House, Mrs Elizabeth Ativie, gave the directive when protesters, under the aegis of Network of Civil Society of Nigeria, visited the assembly in Benin on Wednesday.

Oshibodu was asked to appear before the House on May 12 over alleged extortion of electricity consumers in the state with estimated bills.

Mr Abraham Oviawe who led the protesters to the assembly said the BEDC was over billing the consumers through estimated bills.

Oviawe appealed to the House to intervene in the matter as it had brought untold hardship to the people.

The Speaker described the protest as timely, adding, “the state Governor had in the past made concerted efforts to call the management of BEDC to order.’’

Ativie urged the BEDC to regulate the billing system to reflect transparency.

“I want to commend your effort today for representing the voiceless in the society.

“It is good that you have brought this issue of estimated billing system used to exploit Nigerians to the attention of the public’’, Ativie said.

She assured the protesters that the members of the House will join in demanding for fair, accurate and transparent process of billing electricity consumers in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the speaker and other lawmakers joined the protesters to march round the King Square.