The Service Compact with all Nigerians (SERVICOM) has urged the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to address challenges of access to meters by Nigerians to curb excesses of estimated billings.
National Coordinator, SERVICOM, Mrs Nnenna Akajemeli made the call on Tuesday, when she presented SERVICOM Compliance Evaluation Reports (SCER) at NERC Headquarters in Abuja.
The overall objectives of SCER is to ensure citizen focused service delivery in MDAs, this included identifying gaps in services delivery and making recommendations to MDAs to improve customers‘ satisfaction and accountability.
According to Akajemeli, evaluation was carried out in eight zonal offices of NERC and it identified some weak areas and estimated billings and non-access to meters by NERC customers were the major complaints.
“In Ikeja Distribution Company for example, customers interviewed by SERVICOM crew disclosed that the company does not implement orders/decisions issued by NERC, following the resolution to stop decommissioning of meters.
“Customers lamented that there had been no replacement of old meters removed and they are subjected to estimated billings and this has led to customers` dissatisfaction and insensitivity,” the SERVICOM boss explained.
She, therefore, urged NERC to as a matter of urgency, address such issues by sanctioning Distribution Companies that failed to fulfil orders issued by NERC.
According to her, this will serve as a deterrent to other distribution companies and also reduce complaints/hardship and poor services experienced by Nigerians.
The SERVICOM boss, however, appreciated the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company for its good working relationship with its customers.
Receiving the reports, Mr Christian Ohaa, Permanent Secretary NERC, expressed gratitude to SERVICOM boss and the management team for their exercise to ensure quality service delivery to Nigerians across board.
Ohaa said SERVICOM‘s visit to NERC Headquarters was one of such services to ascertain Nigerians‘ satisfaction in the power sector.
He assured the team that most of the weaknesses raised by them would be addressed in accordance with the policy guiding the regulatory agency.
“The main aim of any governments` establishment is to give services to the citizenry, I am happy that you have identified the strength and weakness in the sector.
“It is now left for NERC to go back to the drawing board to address all identified issues,” he said.