THE ADVERSE EFFECT OF POWER SECTOR PRIVATIZATION, A CLARION CALL FOR ITS REVOCATION
Some years before now, the whole architecture of the Power was a government asset and Nigerians managed all they could offer with a hope of better improvement. At a point, there was a strong clamour for its privatization with the promise of optimum performance by private hands. The assurance of a steady power supply was almost like the air we breathe, little did Nigerians know that their aspirations would hit the brick wall.
Then came the "big bang," the power sector (Generation and Distribution) went into private hands despite that the native intelligentsia harangued against this. Public outcry against the move was ignored by the government!
As months turned into years, it dawned on Nigerians that the perceived assurances of the power sector privatization were but a mirage. Both Generation, Transmission and Distribution of Power had no significant improvement, hence, no good multiplier effect. More worrisome is even the fact that people now pay higher for the nominal power distributed. Many Nigerians pay for darkness, with the impunity of the DISCOS emboldened by the fact that customers are placed on estimated billing irrespective of various legislations against this.
The multitude of Nigerians who are subjugated to an economic level of living on less than a dollar per day, as a result of job loss due to poor economy resulting from erratic power supply with manufacturing companies folding up (this is a topic for another day), are further subjected hard realities of economic woes. Good power supply remains a rhetoric. And because major arms of the economy are hinged on this super important power sector, the economy woefully suffers.
The Federal government of Nigeria and elites alike are found complicit in this absurd neglect as they enjoy the benefits of living in highbrow areas where they don't feel the pains of the masses suffering from extortion and consequent health failures due to the rash effects of the hot weather conditions in various parts of the country, which should have been made up for when there is adequate power supply.
As a matter of urgency, President Muhammadu Buhari should probe the activities in the power sector making good his promise of ensuring regular power supply else Nigerians will be forced to accept his overbearing incompetence.
It is against these backdrop that the former Governor of Lagos state, Ahmed Bola Tinubu, considered and came up with the view that the Privatization of Power sector, which brought no relief as expected, should be cancelled. This he made known in one of his recent public presentations.
Let all Nigerians rise and support the revocation of the Privatized licences issued to elites who are bent on ripping off the masses through dracula policies and tariffs all to make profit, The happenings in the power sector should serve as a deterrent to the Federal government not to privatize national assets and public institutions such as the NNPC, Water board, primary education and healthcare facilities among others, as it has adverse effects on the development of the nation.
Let the power sector privatization be cancelled while the government should as a matter of priority diversify into renewable forms of energy for better efficiency to key into technological advancement.
Enough of the extortion, Power sector should be managed by government.
CivilSociety Professor Yemi Osinbajo Nigerian Senate The Senate Nigeria The Senate President Obasanjo Goodluck Jonathan Ministry of works and Infrastructure Alausa African Independent Television (AIT) Alagbado Channels Television TELEVISION CONTINENTAL Cool FM 96.9 Abuja Lagos State Electricity Board – LSEB Electricity FRCN/VON Broadcasting house ikoyi Lagos
