Residents of Southeast Nigeria are set to embark on an indefinite strike starting November 1, 2024, due to unresolved issues with the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), according to a statement from the Southeast Electricity Consumers Association (SEECA).
Okechukwu Obioha, SEECA’s national chairman, said the decision follows EEDC’s failure to address consumer grievances, including a Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) order for the company to refund N11.86 billion to customers overbilled between January and September 2023.
Obioha also criticized EEDC for its lack of action in repairing faulty transformers and providing essential infrastructure like prepaid meters, cables, and poles.
Obioha highlighted concerns about the alleged plan to migrate all customers to a higher tariff category, Band A.
He stated that residents would stop paying for electricity if prepaid meters were not provided and demanded an end to estimated and community billing practices. SEECA is also calling for a uniform electricity tariff across the Southeast region.
He said, “EEDC and Aba Power Ltd, Geometric, must as a matter of urgent importance take stock and commence an assemblage, repair and replacement of all bad transformers, begin to provide wires, cables and poles as required by NERC regulations.
“Refund of credits for all over-billed consumers to the tune of N11.86 billion as investigated and ordered by NERC.
“As soon as our indefinite strike starts, we encourage the NERC and Federal Government by extension, to advise the EEDC and Aba Power Ltd, Geometric to seize from their supply of electricity to all consumers of electricity in the SouthEast until the above required rules of engagements are met.
“No physical protests of any kind to NERC, EEDC and Aba Power Ltd, Geometric offices and installations are required.”