By Dare Akogun
The Kwara State House of Assembly has called on Governor Abdulraman Abdulrasaq to direct the Ministry of Energy to probe the recurrent erratic power supply and inadequate metering system in the state.
This decision followed the adoption of a motion titled “Need to Address The Poor Services of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) and Curb the Extortionist Tendencies of the Company’s Staff in Kwara State,” sponsored by Hon. Abdulganiyu Folabi-Salau, representing Omupo Constituency.
Hon. Folabi-Salau noted that despite the Federal Government’s push for prepaid metering systems, IBEDC staff in Kwara State has continued to subject customers to exorbitant estimated bills, in flagrant disregard of their actual electricity consumption.
Other lawmakers who spoke on the matter echoed same concerns over inadequate power supply, consumer exploitation through estimated billing, and the high cost of obtaining prepaid meters.
Reading the resolutions of the house , the Speaker, Hon. Yakubu Danlad-Salihu, urged the IBEDC management to ensure prompt provision of reliable prepaid meters for electricity consumers in Kwara State, while discontinuing the use of estimated billing.
The speaker further directed the House Committee on Energy to engage with IBEDC in Kwara State to address arbitrary billing practices and related issues for improved service delivery.
In another development, the House called on the state government to offer relief materials to victims of a rainstorm in the Rifum community, Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara State.
This request followed a motion raised by Hon. Muhammed Musa, representing Patigi constituency, who highlighted the significant damage caused by a recent rainstorm, resulting in the displacement of numerous residents and destruction of property worth millions of naira.
The lawmakers also urged the state government to collaborate with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to provide additional relief materials to alleviate the suffering of the affected individuals.
