ICPC To Tackle Corrupt Practices In Power Sector

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has disclosed plans to tackle corruption related matters arising from estimated billings, illegal sale of meters and other related offences in the electricity sector.

The Chairman of the Commission, Bolaji Owasanoye, speaking during a consultation meeting of business membership organisations and electricity regulatory bodies organised by the Association of Public Policy Analysis (APPA-Nigeria), in Abuja, noted that the incessant complaints about high billings of electricity tariff by power regulators was becoming rife.

Owasanoye, who was represented by Hassan Salihu, an Assistant Commissioner in the Commission, revealed that the Commission articulated the National Ethics and Integrity Policy which is geared towards instilling lost values as a norm in the lives of citizens in the country.

He said, “The Commission was working to ensure accountability across the public and private sectors through the implementation of these core values, explaining that it would enable people working in the sectors to shun all forms of corruption.

“The Commission was empowered by its enabling law to carry out system studies and review in government agencies and departments to mitigate the occurrence of corrupt activities in such organizations.”

In his remark, the Director-General of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Dikko Umaru Radda, noted that it was the responsibility of SMEDAN to formulate and implement policies that would ensure the ease of doing business to make MSMEs competitive in the global market.

He said, “The multiplier effects of high electricity tariffs, poor transmission distribution and supply of electricity on businesses are in no doubt grievous, it will increase MSMEs production costs and it would reduce their competitiveness in the global market.

Radda, who was represented by Olabanjo Fowler, an Assistant Director, Partnership and Coordination, called on other relevant agencies to join hands in identifying the possible areas of intervention as it relates to electricity consumption protection in Nigeria.

He further stated that the issues had affected SME operators who need electricity to carry out their production and services by hindering operations and increasing their cost of production as they resort to use of generators at additional cost as well as paying unjustified exorbitant bills.