Uche Cecil Izuora
The Association of Power
Generation Companies (APGC) has raised questions about the recent statements atrributed to the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, concerning the state of the nation’s power sector.
Joy Ogaji Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Association, in a statement obtained by Oriental News Nigeria said, “We view these allegations, which include claims of “institutionalised extortion” and a phantom subsidy, as a misrepresentation of the facts and a disservice to the ongoing efforts to stabilise Nigeria’s electricity supply industry.
“While we acknowledge the frustrations of Nigerians regarding the unstable power supply, we must firmly reject the NLC’s characterisation of the sector’s
challenges.:
She said, should the NLC and any other institution find it necessary, the GenCo books are ready for any forensic examination that they can be subjected to, adding “It is a fact that GenCos, who are entitled to about 60% of the market
receivables following their invoiced energy bills, face the greatest risk in the electricity value chain with an outstanding unpaid invoice of now over six trillion (N6trn) naira.
GenCos deserve pity and not castigation, ridicule and victimisation.
Ogaji, said that tring to
smear their image with such baseless and unfounded allegations is not only
unfair but misleading to the Nigerian populace: giving the impression that the
sector is not regulated, and that electricity market participants can do as they pleased on checked.
Ogaji, said that to label the legitimate operations of power firms as “robbery” and a “grand
deception” is a simplistic and inflammatory narrative that ignores the complex realities of the industry.
“We also strongly refute the insinuation that the proposed government support for the sector is a clandestine plan to “settle the boys” ahead of elections.
Such a claim she said is baseless, offensive to the professionals working tirelessly in the sector and undermines the critical liquidity interventions needed to keep the
lights on.
“It may be necessary for the NLC and its co-travellers to identify the
robbers and those engaged in the deception. But it certainly cannot be the GenCos who are working around the clock to ensure that electricity is generated in spite of the huge challenges associated with the business.”
She asked, “Who are the boys the NLC is referring to? Is power generation meant for boys? Which election is the NLC talking about?
What is the nexus between power generation and election?
“We are worried that in an attempt to remain relevant, the NLC has forced itself into an area where it lacks the requisite competence.”
The truth according to her is that the power sector, over a decade after privatisation, remains
hamstrung by severe liquidity challenges, which is visibly clear to everyone but calls for clarification too on the issues.
“This write-up is against the backdrop of the news trending in the sector, that GenCos are fraudulent, hence require auditors and legal experts to investigate them for requesting their unpaid and accumulated receivables
for power/electricity generated and consumed but not paid for.” Ogaji added.