The Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JED), has said it has dismissed over 20 staff for vandalism, criminality and other electricity offenses, the JED Managing Director, Engr Abudu Bello Mohammed has said.
Mohammed said he has zero tolerance for corruption and will not spare anyone (staff), caught in the act of stealing the company’s appliances.
“Not less than 20 staff have been shown the hard way out of the company on account of criminalities. I have zero tolerance for corruption”, he said recently in Jos during the customer’s sensitization on Band Upgrade at the company’s ICT center.
Mohammed vowed to deal decisively with any staff caught implicated in financial malfeasance or defrauding customers or the company, adding that customers should not hesitate in paying for their consumed energy.
He noted that there are bad eggs in the system, but assured customers that his administration is on top gear in dealing with those staff who bring bad names to the company.
“Promptly report erring staff to management stemming from the misdemeanors”, said.
Priding itself as one of the best energy companies in the country, Mohammed said it is the desire of JED for all its customers in its four franchise States to enjoy uninterrupted Power supply.
“Without sounding immodest, I am optimistic that you can at the moment attest to the regularity and stability of power supply in Plateau State”, he asserted.
He continued: “Despite the regularity, stability, and reliability of electricity supply to the customers, they hardly reciprocate in terms of payment for their consumed energy.
“The truth is that our postpaid customers hardly pay for their consumed energy just as some of our prepaid customers are also involved in energy thievery.
“One of the vices militating against the operations of our company in Plateau is the menace of vandalism”, he said.
He urged customers to take ownership of electricity installations in their localities to stem the tide of the hydra-head monster and vandalism, disclosing that not less than 20 Distribution Transformers have been vandalized in March in Plateau State alone”.
In his presentation, the Chief Technical Officer of the company, Engr Hamisu Jigawa who in his “Appraisal of Energy Intake and Ancillary Matters’ ‘ disclosed that the failure of the customers to meet their financial obligations to the company was tremendously affecting the entire energy market.
According to him, ” The bill you are paying goes not only to Jos Electricity Distribution Plc but the entire value chain as even those who supply gas to the Gencos are also beneficiaries”.
Engr Jigawa,, therefore urged customers to endeavor to pay for their consumed energy to enable the company to serve them better.