The Edo State House of Assembly has officially summoned the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) to appear before the house on March 9th, to address the escalating crisis of persistent blackouts and contentious billing practices that have plagued the state.
The decision to summon BEDC was reached during a heated plenary session on Wednesday, spurred by concerns raised by Speaker Chief Blessing Agbebaku regarding the dire state of power supply and widespread complaints of overbilling affecting electricity consumers across Edo State.
Speaker Agbebaku emphasized that the summons was a direct response to the growing wave of public discontent and protests, including the recent “BEDC must go” demonstration, which even saw Governor Monday Okpebholo joining forces with protesting youths to voice their frustrations.
Lawmakers, echoing the sentiments of their constituents, took turns outlining the severe challenges posed by the erratic power supply that continues to cripple businesses and disrupt daily life throughout the state.
They highlighted the numerous complaints received from their respective constituencies, citing the alarming reduction in megawatts allocated to the state and the increasingly frequent and prolonged power outages.
The lawmakers unanimously stressed the urgent need for BEDC to drastically improve its power distribution infrastructure and address the systemic issues contributing to the ongoing energy crisis.
The sitting was subsequently adjourned, with BEDC officially directed to appear before the Edo State House of Assembly on Monday, March 9th, to provide explanations and propose solutions to the pressing issues at hand. The assembly intends to hold BEDC accountable and demand concrete steps towards resolving the electricity crisis affecting the people of Edo State.