Reps To Probe Non Replacement Of Obsolete Meters By Discos
The House of Representatives has directed its Committee on Power to investigate the failure of electricity distribution companies (DisCos) to replace obsolete meters and improve infrastructure.
This includes addressing the reliance on consumer contributions for maintenance and equipment replacement.
The House also urged the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to enforce the directive for DisCos to replace outdated meters at no cost to consumers within a specified timeframe.
The lower chamber also called on the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, to prioritize funding and incentives for upgrading electricity infrastructure, especially transformers, to reduce load-shedding and improve nationwide service delivery.
The resolutions followed a motion of urgent national importance raised by Hon Nnamdi Ezechi on addressing metering challenges in the electricity sector.
In a separate resolution, the House mandated an investigation into the recent CNG cylinder explosion in Edo State and similar incidents nationwide, which resulted in fatalities and severe injuries.
The inquiry aims to uncover the causes and prevent future occurrences.
The House also called for legislation to regulate the production, installation, and use of CNG tanks and systems in vehicles, ensuring compliance with international safety standards and eliminating substandard products by unqualified manufacturers.
Following a motion by Hon Fuad Laguda, the House directed the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) to collaborate on enforcing strict certification standards for CNG tank production and installation.
In another development, the House mandated its Committees on Digital and Electronic Banking, Finance, Banking Regulations, and Financial Crimes to summon the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and Managing Directors of commercial banks and financial institutions using POS services.
The aim is to address the challenges posed by undocumented POS transactions and propose measures to reduce fraudulent activities, including identity theft, money laundering, and unauthorized transactions.
This followed a motion by Hon John Okafor, who emphasized that documenting user identities would enhance the security of financial transactions in Nigeria.
The committees were directed to report back within four legislative weeks.