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Residents flay outrageous electricity bills in Delta
Electricity consumers under the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) may be in for terrible times as the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) has given the management a two-week ultimatum to rescind its decision over the recent sack of some of its workers.
A letter to the Managing Director of BEDC dated January 11, 2018, stated that the union wrote that at the end of the expiration of the ultimatum, it should not be held responsible for the inaction of management on the issues raised.
The letter titled: Anti Workers Stance, Two Weeks Ultimatum, and signed by the General Secretary of NUEE, Joe Ajaero, he alleged that the management arbitrarily sacked the workers without following the extant labour law.
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Ajaero noted that the decision was ill conceived and condemnable especially when management refused to put up a negotiated condition of service in place despite all entreaties.
He said that the he was amazed that management did not deem it necessary to discuss the exercise with the union.
Again it said it has been the habitual character of BEDC management to pay pro rated salaries to workers, the illicit payment it commenced May 2015.
“Your action has therefore sowed a seed of distrust in our relationship and this is unfortunate. To this extent it is pertinent that we review our relationship with your management henceforth.
Meanwhile, the people of Alisimie Idumu-Itenei Community in Agbor kingdom, Ika South Local Council of Delta State have condemned the outrageous electricity bills being sent to villages within the community by the BEDC.
Speaking on behalf of the nine villages in the area, Chairman, Alisimie Central Executive Committee, Philip Bitokwu alleged that the billing system was exploitative, considering the level of their electricity consumption.
