No ongoing licence renewal for Discos, BPE clarifies

No ongoing licence renewal for the electricity distribution companies (Discos), as their 15-year tenor is yet to elapse though renewable for fresh 10 years, the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) has clarified.

The clarification yesterday in Benin City by the agency’s Director General, Alex Okoh, followed sustained protest by the civil society groups in Edo State against the alleged renewal of the licence of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC), which they accused of poor service.

The DG appealed to the protesters and stakeholders to exercise restraint and allow the power firm discharge its duties creditably.At a media parley organised by the BEDC, Okoh said: “The BPE on behalf of the Federal Government wishes to state categorically that there is nothing in terms of contract or licence renewal for any of the distribution companies (Discos).”He added that “government respects contracts and would not do anything to jeopartise the operations of companies it had willingly entered into agreements with.”

The utility firm’s Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Funke Osibodu, said her organisation remained committed to sanitising its network for the good of all customers despite the recent picketing by the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE).She noted that the company was shut by the union following a stalemate in negotiation between both parties over some pending conditions of service.

“ Despite the declaration of dispute and involvement of the Ministry of Labour in advising on allowing the arbitration process, NUEE went ahead to picket,” Osibodu said.