AKWA IBOM STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY'S COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC UTILITY AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT ENGAGES PHED

By Daniel Edon

The House Committee on Public Utility and Rural Development, Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly Meets with Representative of the Managing Director Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED) and Management Staff’s of the Company.

Chairman, House Committee on Public Utility, Rt. Hon. Usoro Akpanusoh

 

Today, Friday 10th, July 2020, the House Committee on Public Utility and Rural Development headed by Rt.Hon. Usoro Akpanusoh alongside other Committee Members meet again with Representatives of the Managing Director of Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company and Management Staff’s. Also Present was the Managing Director of Ibom Power Plant. Like other days, the Managing Director of Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company has once again showcased nonfeasance behavior towards the State House of Assembly by refusing to honor the invitation of the State House Assembly for the third time by always sending representatives to appear before the Committee.

 

On Friday 3rd July, 2020 , the House Committee on Public Utility and Rural Development bounced Representative of the Managing Director and Management Board of Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company due to the Refusal of the Managing Director to appear before the Panel and out of the magnanimous nature of the Committee, they rescheduled the meeting with the company for today 10th July, 2020 through their Letter of Invitation to the Managing Director of Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company dated 6th July, 2020 with Ref. No. AKSH/S/192/Vol.11/154.

 

After series of letter of invitation to the Managing Director of Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company, the Managing Director has for the third time refused to appear before the Committee which caused the members to frown bitterly by the action of the Managing Director, Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company which they consider as a slap to the Akwa Ibom State Government and the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly. Due to this refusal of the Managing Director of Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company for the third time to appear before the Committee, the Committee swung into action by resolving to tender an interim report specifically on the issue of the refusal of the Managing Director to appear before the House of Assembly and also taking into consideration the relevant sectors of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution and the Standing Orders of the State House of Assembly.

 

Due to this nonchalant attitude of the Managing Director of Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company towards the State House of Assembly, the House Committee on Public Utility and Rural Development through the Chairman of the Committee - Rt. Hon. Usoro Akpanusoh requested for an holistic report from Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company, documenting the following:

• Contractual Agreement Relationship with Akwa Ibom State

• Request for Memorandum of Understanding of Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company with any Community in Akwa Ibom State (if there is existence of any)

• Numbers of Feeders of Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company in Akwa Ibom State and names of the Managers of the Feeders

• Numbers of Staff’s

• Numbers of Akwa Ibom Indigenes employed by Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company and their Ranks

• Numbers of Transformers purchased and installed by Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company in Akwa Ibom State with Locations

• List of Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company Social Responsibilities and Location

• Number of Customers in Akwa Ibom State

• Numbers of Staff’s Sacked, Pending Sack and Retired Staff’s.

The House Committee on Public Utility and Rural Development Commission gave Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company the Span of Seven Days to Submit the report which elapse on the 17th July, 2020.