By Nnabugwu Chizoba
If anybody is searching for what
makes Plateau State, “The Home of Peace and Tourism”, that person needs to have
a deep discussion with the Management of the Jos Electricity Distribution
Company (JEDC), whose penchant for not only disrespecting and disregarding
basic rules of procedures and operational etiquettes, in their dealings with
the electricity consumers in Jos, the Plateau State, capital.
How else would anybody, especially
lovers of peace and concord, sound, to at least respect the individuals and
groups whose efforts in ensuring that series of discouraging, frustrating and
in some cases very daunting, obviously irritating, energy sapping and time
consuming sessions organized by the electricity consumers in some communities
in Jos; to bring the management of Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JEDC),
to see reason and renege from their ill treatment, mishandling, and
mismanagement of electricity consumers, in Jos did not end in crisis.
The search for peace, security and
protection of life and property in any environment has since been identified as
the responsibility of all citizens; that includes the corporate entities, as
critical stakeholders. To this end, JEDC, as a corporate entity, operating in
Plateau State, and numerous other organizations, do not need any special
education to understand this basic standard.
It is therefore, expected that
JEDC, individuals and corporate bodies operating in Plateau state, should
appreciate the fact, that the city of Jos, known, celebrated and widely
accepted and reverenced as “Home of Peace and Tourism” would do everything
humanly possible for the city to continue to retain this cherished status, that
almost eluded it due to some brash and unhealthy relations that suddenly turned
the state to a very volatile and crisis ridden one at a time.
Rules, policies, procedures,
processes and laws exist because they are considered very useful for
orderliness in the conduct of both personal and business activities of the
living, within the period of this earthly journey. At different time dimensions,
they play different roles. At one point they serve the specific purpose of dictating
where particular activity of the earthly sojourner takes place. At another time,
they become a check to who qualifies to receive the very product or service that
the inhabitants of the earth offer.
Generally, rules, policies,
procedures, processes and laws determine the boundaries and create the standard
and manner to which the earthly traveler in and out of business circulates.
They place limitations, provide the ceiling, guide efforts, protect not only
the mighty but the weak, grant levels of liberty, discourage excesses, control
desires, place sanctions, offer remedies that are sometimes favourable and at
other occasions injurious. The best for the earthly sojourner is to obey.
Nothing less, in this regard is expected of corporate entities as well.
Fundamentally, the charge as always
is to abhor where this is the expectation; and to conform in the event that, as
earthly vessels, you are condemned to do so. This is the understanding that
makes it convenient for parties to agree. For all business dealings, it is not
expected that income, revenue generation and profiteering would becloud the
sense of reasoning of the operators. If anything, it is the expectation that
those who part with their hard earned resources in exchange for services and/or
goods, should be treated with dignity and respect. This standard of treatment
is not too much for the consumers of goods and services to be visited with, by
their service providers, Jos Electricity consumers inclusive.
Going by the ordeals of service
providers in some other places, apart from Jos, where destruction of property
and body injuries have been the order of the day, whenever consumers feel short
changed, one would have expected the Management and staff of JEDC, to have
honored the tasted and time proven approach adopted by the electricity consumers
in Jos, who observed very early, the ignoble manner that JEDC, decided to
change the rules of the game, adopting behind the scene, unapproved and near
clandestine methods in their dealings and operations.
Instead of customers being treated
with respect; insult, harassment, and intimidation became the order of the day,
especially, for calling for dialogue and amicable resolution of identified
lapses in the operations of the company.
It sounds like fiction to hear people
complain that they came back to their residents after normal day’s activities,
just to observe that their prepaid meters have been removed and new ones
mounted without prior notice.
Worst still is the fact that access
to the private properties were conducted illegally, considering that the gates
of most of the properties JEDC staff intruded were under lock and key when the
changes were effected.
It might interest the reader to
note that these illegal activities were going-on notwithstanding the alarm
raised by the electricity consumers in Jos, that the new meters been
distributed were not certified by the appropriate federal government
authorities, set up for that purpose.
Additionally, the consumers, as a
matter of fact, also complained that the meters were not calibrated, yet, JEDC
was busy pooling out the legally acquired, tested and approved meters.
Another very disgusting aspect of
all these developments, is the fact that, the prepaid meters that JEDC removed were
still functioning, not banned by the regulatory body, and very importantly,
they were acquired by the consumers at very exorbitant prices.
At the Federal low cost area of the
city of Jos, it was reported by the residents that their attempts to call JEDC
for the stoppage of the exercise of removing their still functioning and not
outlawed meters and replacing them with new meters was not welcomed by JEDC, rather
their effrontery was only met by the wrath of JEDC. Their call for a dialogue
between the residents and JEDC was bluffed. This call earned them the punishment
of being severed from the national grid and kept in darkness for days. Sadly, with
these developments one would expect that those on estimated billing will
receive low bills, but, your guess may be on the wrong path.
To bracingly shunt the people, and
still behave in a manner that conveys the message of “you cannot do anything”
is by all intent and purposes; an invitation to war and anarchy. Authorities
concern, including the law enforcement agencies should take note, while other
relevant bodies must do the needful. A stitch in time saves nine.
If you still wonder why Plateau
state is “The Home of Peace and Tourism” it is because you are in shock over
these revelations that, citizens in the state are still their neighbours keeper,
no doubt!
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