Reps to invite BEDC over eight years power outage in Ekiti communities

The House of Representatives, on Wednesday, has resolved to invite the management of Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) over the eight years power outage in some Local Governments in Ekiti State.

The lawmakers representing the areas has expressed grave concern over the power outage in eighteen towns in Ekiti State for the past 8 years, and the residents have been living in darkness as they do not get electricity supply from BEDC.

The lawmakers expressed the concern during the debate on a motion on the ‘Need to prevail on the Benin Electricity Distribution Company Plc (BEDC) to address the power outage in Gbonyin and Ekiti East Local Government Areas of Ekiti State’, which was sponsored by Hon Olufemi Bamisile.

Worried by the development, the House resolved to invite management of Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) with a view to ensuring restoration of electricity in the affected Local Governments.

“The House notes that the importance of electricity in the industrial, domestic and commercial lives of an individual, corporate citizen, towns, cities and communities cannot be overemphasized as electricity is needed in factories and workshops for engineering and technical activities and desirable at hospitals and clinics for surgery and clinical activities and essential at schools and homes for education, comfort, lightings and domestic use etc.

“The House is aware that under the provisions of the Electric Power Sector Reform Act, 2005 Private Companies are given opportunities to participate in electricity generation, distribution and transmission and the Benin Electricity Distribution Company Plc (BEDC) is one of the private companies participating in electricity distribution in the Country and also responsible for the supply of electricity to Gbonyin and Ekiti – East Local Government Areas of Ekiti State.

“The House observes that Gbonyin Local Government Area consist of seven towns namely; Ode-Ekiti, Agbado, Imesi, Egbejlro, Aiyeseba, Iluomoba and Ijan while Ekiti-East Local Government Area has eleven (11) towns namely; Omuo, Kota, Omuooke, Ayegunle, Araromi, Igbesi, Araromi Oke, Ikun Oba, Ilasa, Eda lIe, Isinbode and Isaya Ekiti.

“The House is concerned that for over eight years, towns and villages in Gbonyin and Ekiti – East Local Government Areas have been living in darkness as residents do not get electricity supply from BEDC, thereby bringing economic activities, family and social lives to a standstill with attendant consequences to the economic well-being, prosperity and health of residents as private individuals and corporate citizens transacting business in the areas are compelled to be buying diesel and fuel at exorbitant prices to power generators.

“The House is worried that residents of Communities in the Local Government Areas being are denied benefits associated with electricity supply by the failure of the Distribution Company to supply and distribute electricity to the residents and if nothing is done, they will continue to live in darkness with attendant security and socio-economic consequences.”

After the debate on the motion, the House resolved to invite the Management of Benin Electricity Distribution Company Plc (BEDC) to interface with the Committee on Power to explain the reasons for its failure, neglect or refusal to supply electricity to Gbonyin and Ekiti East Local Government Areas of Ekiti State.

To this end, the House mandated the joint Committees on Power and Legislative Compliance to ensure compliance and report back within four weeks for further legislative action.

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