The Managing Director of Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), Mr Neil Croucher, on Thursday, said that the company would spend 200 million dollars on mass provision of meters for customers in the next five years.
The information was contained in a statement issued by AEDC’s Head of Public Relations and Media, Ahmed Shekarau, made available in Abuja.
Shekarau said that the AEDC boss made this known when he received the new executives of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) in Abuja.
He quoted Croucher as soliciting for the support of NUEE in getting Nigerians to embrace the new tariff regime, saying that the metering project would begin this year.
The electricity distribution company boss said that the tariff adjustment was intended to stimulate investment that would improve power supply nationwide, stressing that the tariff would come down in a few years to come.
Croucher said that the management of the company had recorded some success since it commenced operations as major electricity distribution company.
He listed some of the achievements to include the replacement of billing system with metering, vending and information technology systems, business process re-engineering and modernisation, and enhanced welfare packages for employees.
The AEDC chief executive officer, who congratulated the Union officials on their election last year, noted that the challenges of transforming the power sector in Nigeria would require wisdom, innovation, flexibility and mutual respect between management and employees.
Responding, the President of NUEE, Mr Martins Uzoegwu, appreciated the efforts of the current management of the company to turn it around and to put it on the path of growth and profitability.
He said “we appreciate the good working relationship with our colleagues in the FCT and local AEDC chapters; we, however, want you to build on that and we’ll continue to engage with you.”
On his part, the Union’s General Secretary, Joe Ajaero, said “we are encouraged by your transformation programmes and the improvements you have recorded so far.
“AEDC has done well to a large extent. You paid productivity bonus last year. This is commendable, but you can do better.
“We want you to do more in terms of staff welfare, although we’re not here for negotiation but for interaction.
“We urge you to do more so that you can motivate staff further to ensure that the company achieves better results.”
