Joshua Obika, representing Abuja Municipal (AMAC)/Bwari Area Councils in the House of Representatives, says he plans to establish a legislative complaint desk to address electricity issues in his constituency.

Mr Obika said this on Wednesday at the AMAC/Bwari legislative intervention workshop on electricity consumer protection in Abuja.

The theme of the workshop was “Applying Legislative Instruments to Enhance Implementation of the Electricity Consumer Protection Provisions of the Electricity Act 2023 in AMAC/Bwari Federal Constituency.”

“It is my duty as a representative of the people to channel people’s complaints to the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) to do the needful, as we can no longer accept disservice to the people,” Mr Obika said.

He said that the complaint desk would enable his office to have all complaints and make sure the issues are taken up with AEDC, whose responsibility it is to solve the problems.

“There is a signed contract that gives AEDC the powers, so AEDC has to meet its obligation to the people, and that is why I am here to make sure it happens.

“All the laws are already in place in this country; our problem most times is not the law but the implementation. So, the people saddled with the job to ensure proper implementation must do it.

“I am giving the AMAC and Bwari constituency the opportunity to come up with their complaints. In the past, maybe their complaints were not attended to, but this time around it will be different, ‘’ he said.

Mr Obika urged all community leaders to encourage their people who have electricity challenges to submit written complaints to the office for proper handling of the issues.

He said that legislative representation was better achieved through regular consultation with constituents.

According to him, this will enable the lawmaker to understand details of the matter by hearing from the institutions whose responsibilities are to carry out oversight and investigation.

“And to also hear from his constituents who are on the demand side of the governance curve. This process will enable the lawmaker to make informed decisions on the right legislative action to follow.’’

The lawmaker said he received numerous complaints concerning electricity billing, metering, disconnection, handling safety standards and absence of electricity in some rural communities due to infrastructural challenges, amongst others.

Mr Obika added that he had consulted with stakeholders in the power sector to find a way of resolving these complaints.

In his keynote address, Sherif Ibrahim, Head of Department, Political Science and International Relations, University of Abuja, emphasised the need to protect the rights of consumers.

Mr Ibrahim said, “That is why there is the need for perpetual monitoring and evaluation of laws to ensure they are checked and implemented.

“Members of the legislature can synergize with the members of the executive as well as the institutions of the judiciary in making sure that these laws are implemented.

“They should also ensure punitive measures or penalties are imposed on those who fail in their responsibilities.’’

Mr Ibrahim said that it was good that the members of the legislature have an obligation in terms of oversight functions to ensure the protection of consumer rights as it relates to power consumption.

He said that areas through which consumers should maintain and fulfil all their obligations had also been identified.

“Especially at protecting the power installations as well as payment of their monthly or quarterly bills.

“Also cordiality in their relationship with their officials who come to supervise or inspect power facilities and installations, ‘’ he said.

On his part, Dalahatu Musa, the commissioner of the FCT Public Complaint Commission, said that his office was partnering with the legislature to ensure that the right thing was done.

Mr Musa said that the era of government and private agencies going away without doing the right thing was gone.

“We are joining hands with Rep Obika and other government agencies to check some of these abnormalities.

“I have told him that my office is ready to partner with his office to make sure people get the services they paid for. The worst is that these services are not free. We paid for these services, so they must be rendered,’’ he said.

Princewill Okorie, special adviser on consumer affairs and public complaints to Mr Obika, said that the workshop was a pilot one.

According to him, it is expected that members of the House of Representatives, going by Section 88 of the Constitution, which gave them the power of oversight and investigation functions, would be able to carry out consumer engagement in their constituencies.

He said that this would enable the lawmakers to know the way consumers are served in their various constituencies.

“By so doing, legislative activities will improve the sector based on consumer information,’’ he said.

(NAN)