Edo electricity bill financially induced- CSOs

A coalition Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Edo state Tuesday rejected the passage of a bill criminalising electricity theft and the setting up of a special court by the state House of Assembly.

The activists said the action of the Assembly has revealed “their level of insensitivity towards the plight of the people in the face of extortion, estimated billings and darkness”.

This was contained in a statement issued by the CSOs spokesman, Leftist Osaze Edin and made available to newsmen.

“The Assembly found it convenient to be compromised by BEDC, whereas, didn’t raised its voice against estimated and outrageous electricity bills forced on citizens without service,” Osaze said.

To this end, the group has called on residents to come out enmass Tomorrow (Thursday) for a protest against the “ill-conceived and obnoxious law”.

The CSOs also called on the legislators to “drop that bill now until all customers are metered and estimated billing is eradicated”.

Osaze recalled that Governor Goodwin Obaseki, the Oba of Benin, traditional rulers and the civil societies have at different instances condemned the operations of the management of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company.

The spokesman urges the governor not to assent “to that piece of uninformed and financially induced bill when it comes to his table.

“He (Obaseki) must stand and protect the interest of the people over that of a few persons,” Osaze said.

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