Meters: Electricity Consumers to Pay through Service Charge Chineme Okafor in Abuja Contrary to the position of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) that electricity consumers in the country would be provided meters free-of-charge by their distribution companies
(Discos), power consumers would actually have to pay for such through a new window termed ‘metering service charge,’ THISDAY yesterday learnt. THISDAY gathered from the Meter Assets Providers (MAPs) regulation of NERC
that Discos’ customers can either choose to pay upfront for meters to be installed at their premises by Discoaccredited MAPs, or accept an installation by the Discos with an agreement to pay for it through their electricity bills. NERC recently stated that
the responsibility of providing meters to consumers was still that of Discos. It also disclosed that under the MAPs scheme, consumers who choose to self-finance their meter acquisition would pay the MAPs N36,991.50 for single phase meters and N67,
055.85 for three phase meters respectively. It has so far approved the MAPs accredited by Abuja; Ibadan; Ikeja and Jos Discos to commence operations. However, it is not clear if the new meter service charges in the MAPs scheme are different
from the fixed charge the NERC in 2015 abolished and striped Discos from collecting from consumers. Efforts to reach the General Manager, Public Affairs, Dr. Usman Arabi, and Head of Continued on page 6
IG to Hold Area Commanders, DPOs Responsible for Extra-judicial Killings... Page 7 Tuesday 16 April, 2019 Vol 24. No 8772. Price: N250
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PDP Warns INEC over Presidential Election Materials Says failure to obey court order may cause crisis
Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday raised the alarm over alleged refusal
of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to obey the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal’s order to release election
materials used for the conduct of the February 23, presidential election to it. The party warned that this could plunge the nation into
We won't engage in media war, replies commission
a monumental crisis. But the electoral commission reacted swiftly yesterday, telling THISDAY that it would not engage in a media war
with any party over issues that are in court. The main opposition party had also said that the refusal by INEC to release
forms EC8D, EC40G and the reports of the card readers was a deliberate and vicious Continued on page 6
Buhari Silent as CCT Decides Onnoghen's Fate on Thursday Alex Enumah in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari has kept mum over reported notice of retirement sent to him by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, whose fate over alleged false asset declaration trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) would be decided on Thursday by the three-man panel headed by Mr. Danladi Umar. Following reported indictment by the National Judicial Council (NJC) over a petition filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Onnoghen was said to have sent in his notice of retirement, apparently to beat NJC’s recommendation that he be compulsorily retired from service. Presidency officials had said Buhari, who was abroad on official trip at the time Onnoghen sent in his letter
on April 5, would decide whether to accept his voluntary retirement or opt for the NJC recommendation. The president since his return to the country has, however, been silent on the issue, fueling speculation that he might be awaiting the outcome of the embattled CJN’s trial at the CCT. The CCT yesterday after the adoption of written addresses by both defence and prosecution lawyers, fixed Thursday for judgement. On that day, the tribunal would also deliver its rulings on two applications filed by Onnoghen in which he challenged the jurisdiction of the tribunal to hear the suit and the other, which prayed the tribunal chairman to recuse himself from the trial on account of bias. Justice Onnoghen is standing trial on a six-count charge of Continued on page 6
Shettima Backs Lawan, Ndume Group Insists on Secret Ballot... Page 6
BRITISH HOSPITALITY… L-R: Deputy British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Laure Beaufils; Lagos State governor-elect, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing; and Ogun State governor-elect, Prince Dapo Abiodun, during a reception hosted by the High Commission in Lagos...recently