Press statement of Coalition of Plateau Residents on the 6th April, 2017 (pictures of the on-the-spot assessment visit by NEMSA)
6th April, 2017
Press Statement
Coalition of Plateau Residents for Peace and Development
Protocol,
Fellow peace-loving residents of Plateau State, you are aware that following public complaints and outcry in Plateau State with regard to outrageous estimated billing, installation of new untested, uncertified and uncalibrated prepaid meters and poor service delivery by Jos Electricity Distribution (JED) PLC, the above group took it upon itself to pursue the mentioned issues on behalf of the residents to a logical, appreciable and amicable conclusion.
We had series of critical meetings and dialogue sessions with the management of JED PLC, one of which was chaired by the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer JED PLC, Mohammed Gidado Modibbo to ventilate the positions of residents to the company which all ended in deadlock and were fruitless as our complaints fell on deaf ears after a petition we wrote the company in which we copied the regulatory bodies and security agencies. You are also aware of the peaceful protest we staged on the 16th of February, 2017 at JED PLC Headquarters Ahmadu Bello Way Jos, Plateau State as well as another protest by residents of Federal Lowcost Jos at JED PLC Office near Country Home Hotel Jos Plateau State on 13th March, 2017 on same issues.
We want to use this medium to appreciate the government of Plateau State through the Honourable Commissioner of Water Resources and Energy, Hon. Ja’afaru Wuyep who through our complaints painstakingly took it upon himself to officially invite the Officials of Nigerian Electricity Management Service Agency (NEMSA), the body responsible to carry out the functions of enforcement of technical standards and regulations, technical Inspection, Testing and Certification of all categories of Electrical Installations, Electricity Meters and Instruments to ensure the efficient production and delivery of safe, reliable and sustainable Electricity Power Supply and Guarantee safety of Lives and Property in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry; and for Related Matters. The officials of NEMSA from its Headquarters came to Jos, Plateau State today Thursday 6th April, 2017 and we had a brief meeting at Plateau State Ministry of Water Resources and Energy before proceeding to Federal Lowcost, Diye Zarmaganda and Rayfield all in Jos, Plateau State for on-the-spot assessment visit.
We are happy to announce to you that the Officials of NEMSA made the following observations;
1. The new prepaid meters installed in the communities visited in Jos were not tested and certified by them before installations were done.
2. They have not calibrated any new prepaid meter installed in Plateau State.
3. The structures upon which installations of the new prepaid were done are not according to NEMSA’s standards and specifications because in some areas visited over 8 prepaid meters were installed on wooden electric poles which according to them is unacceptable.
4. The existing prepaid meters are good and meet up standards and specifications which can still be used by the consumers.
5. That henceforth, JED PLC should suspend the installation of the new prepaid meters until they are tested, calibrated and certified to be good for use.
From the above submissions by NEMSA, it is obvious that we have been vindicated and our struggle for the interest of the good people of Plateau State justified.
We want to also thank the Plateau State residents for their supports and how peaceful they have so far conducted themselves all through the period of our struggles, the security agencies for their understanding and providing adequate security during our peaceful protests and the media houses who are numerous for the full coverage of our meetings/dialogue sessions, peaceful protests and today’s assessment visit by NEMSA.
More importantly, we want to thank the management of Nigerian Electricity Management Service Agency (NEMSA) for their visit, professionalism and friendly disposition as they work toward addressing the issues at hand in professional manner.
We want to call on the members of Plateau State House of Assembly to wake up to their legislative responsibilities of being the true representatives of the people. This is because a letter of complaint on this issue was written to them but nothing was done to address it.
We will continue to work to ensure that Plateau Residents get satisfaction and obtain values for goods and services they are paying for. We will remain peaceful, open to dialogue and most importantly law-abiding at all times as patriotic citizens.
Thank you so very much.
God bless Plateau State
God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Barr. Sam Tokz
Chairman, Steering Committee
Cmr. Friday Bako
Secretary, Steering Committee
Press Statement
Coalition of Plateau Residents for Peace and Development
Protocol,
Fellow peace-loving residents of Plateau State, you are aware that following public complaints and outcry in Plateau State with regard to outrageous estimated billing, installation of new untested, uncertified and uncalibrated prepaid meters and poor service delivery by Jos Electricity Distribution (JED) PLC, the above group took it upon itself to pursue the mentioned issues on behalf of the residents to a logical, appreciable and amicable conclusion.
We had series of critical meetings and dialogue sessions with the management of JED PLC, one of which was chaired by the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer JED PLC, Mohammed Gidado Modibbo to ventilate the positions of residents to the company which all ended in deadlock and were fruitless as our complaints fell on deaf ears after a petition we wrote the company in which we copied the regulatory bodies and security agencies. You are also aware of the peaceful protest we staged on the 16th of February, 2017 at JED PLC Headquarters Ahmadu Bello Way Jos, Plateau State as well as another protest by residents of Federal Lowcost Jos at JED PLC Office near Country Home Hotel Jos Plateau State on 13th March, 2017 on same issues.
We want to use this medium to appreciate the government of Plateau State through the Honourable Commissioner of Water Resources and Energy, Hon. Ja’afaru Wuyep who through our complaints painstakingly took it upon himself to officially invite the Officials of Nigerian Electricity Management Service Agency (NEMSA), the body responsible to carry out the functions of enforcement of technical standards and regulations, technical Inspection, Testing and Certification of all categories of Electrical Installations, Electricity Meters and Instruments to ensure the efficient production and delivery of safe, reliable and sustainable Electricity Power Supply and Guarantee safety of Lives and Property in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry; and for Related Matters. The officials of NEMSA from its Headquarters came to Jos, Plateau State today Thursday 6th April, 2017 and we had a brief meeting at Plateau State Ministry of Water Resources and Energy before proceeding to Federal Lowcost, Diye Zarmaganda and Rayfield all in Jos, Plateau State for on-the-spot assessment visit.
We are happy to announce to you that the Officials of NEMSA made the following observations;
1. The new prepaid meters installed in the communities visited in Jos were not tested and certified by them before installations were done.
2. They have not calibrated any new prepaid meter installed in Plateau State.
3. The structures upon which installations of the new prepaid were done are not according to NEMSA’s standards and specifications because in some areas visited over 8 prepaid meters were installed on wooden electric poles which according to them is unacceptable.
4. The existing prepaid meters are good and meet up standards and specifications which can still be used by the consumers.
5. That henceforth, JED PLC should suspend the installation of the new prepaid meters until they are tested, calibrated and certified to be good for use.
From the above submissions by NEMSA, it is obvious that we have been vindicated and our struggle for the interest of the good people of Plateau State justified.
We want to also thank the Plateau State residents for their supports and how peaceful they have so far conducted themselves all through the period of our struggles, the security agencies for their understanding and providing adequate security during our peaceful protests and the media houses who are numerous for the full coverage of our meetings/dialogue sessions, peaceful protests and today’s assessment visit by NEMSA.
More importantly, we want to thank the management of Nigerian Electricity Management Service Agency (NEMSA) for their visit, professionalism and friendly disposition as they work toward addressing the issues at hand in professional manner.
We want to call on the members of Plateau State House of Assembly to wake up to their legislative responsibilities of being the true representatives of the people. This is because a letter of complaint on this issue was written to them but nothing was done to address it.
We will continue to work to ensure that Plateau Residents get satisfaction and obtain values for goods and services they are paying for. We will remain peaceful, open to dialogue and most importantly law-abiding at all times as patriotic citizens.
Thank you so very much.
God bless Plateau State
God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Barr. Sam Tokz
Chairman, Steering Committee
Cmr. Friday Bako
Secretary, Steering Committee
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