By ANDREW OJIEZEL
Dissatisfied with the outcome of the privatization of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) have appealed to the Federal Government to revoke the sale of the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) to private operators.
He described as ‘reap off ‘ the tariff being charged consumers by the private operators without efficient and commensurate service delivery.
The appeal is coming on the heels of recent internal crisis rocking the working relations between workers union and the management of KEDCO.
The union had accused the management for administrative and operational misgivings following the termination and unnecessary delay in confirmation of its staff after completing their probationary period of six months as well for over charging/billing consumers using uncalibrated metres recently installed.
Alhaji Aliyu Sahabi, the Chairman of the Sokoto state Chapter of the Bureau De Change (BDCs) who made the appeal in Sokoto Monday said the proposed revocation would allow the federal government to wholly revamp the nation’s power sector as well device a more beneficial billing method for customers.
” After doing so, more funds should be pumped into revamping the sector.
” This means improved power supply to all parts of the nation, as well as the revival of the collapsed industries.”
According to Sahabi, “this will afford efficient utility service to consumers, guarantee constant supply and improved revenue at reasonable cost to consumers.”
He also said revamping the sector would bolster the local manufacturing of products, hence, reduce the heavy demands for foreign exchange, especially dollar.
Sahabi added that the revival of industries would help to drastically reduce poverty, unemployment, restiveness and crimes, among other tangible and intangible benefits.
The BDCS chairman further called on Nigerians to imbibe the habit of patronizing made in Nigeria products, so as to make the Nigerian currency stronger.
The chairman further commended the federal and Sokoto state governments for spending huge amount of money on the Anchor Borrowers Programme noting that it has helped to boost the massive production of rice and wheat in the state.
“The gesture was very crucial in ensuring food security in the nation, reduction of poverty and unemployment, among others.”
Accordingly, Sahabi maintained that the programme had proven to be one of the most plausible solutions to the current recession plaguing the country.
” The gesture should be sustained, with more funds allocated to the scheme as it had proven to be worthwhile.”