Business

NERC Commends PHED On CAPMI Implementation

Published

11 years ago

December 1, 2014

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has commended the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED) for adhering to the commission’s directive to ensure that all electricity consumers are metered.
Chairman of NERC, Sam Amadi, who made the commendation during the Commission’s Public consultation and fact finding mission on the Credited Advance Payment For Metering Implementation (CAPMI) in Port Harcourt on Thursday, said the commission was established to protect the interest of the Nigerian electricity consumer and said PHED was able to meet the deadline issued by the regulatory body to meter all its consumers.
Amadi who was represented at the event by the Commissioner, Government and Consumer Affairs, NERC, Dr Abba Ibrahim, said the CAPMI programme was introduced for low income earners to pay less than what they are currently paying for the same amount of electricity consumed.
He said NERC in June 2012 ordered all distribution companies to ensure that all consumers are metered and billed accurately, stating that the idea was to ensure that consumers pay what they consume and to ensure that electricity companies provide the Nigerian consumer with steady power supply and efficient customer services.
The commission’s boss, said the main purpose of CAPMI is metering, stressing that over 50 per cent of electricity consumers are not metered, and explained that the commission after enquiring years back set up a committee which submitted a comprehensive report, and made some recommendations.
According to him, based on the recommendations, the commission had to provide solution to move the electricity sector forward and insisted that all distribution companies must meter their customers within 18 months and that order was made on 1st June, 2012.
‘’ We promised electricity consumers that they will no longer pay for what they do not consume. Under the CAPMI programme customers will not pay in bulk to acquire a pre-paid meter as the cost has been reduced and spread across their tariff. Customers only have to pay an approved connection fee’’, he said.
He however said the CAPMI initiative will further ensure that consumers only pay for what they consume which at the end will bring an end to estimated billing, adding that it will open the power sector to private investors to improve power generation and distribution in the country.
Amadi however said, that NERC is the body that regulates electricity in the country and was established to protect the interest of the Nigerian electricity consumer, adding that the commission organized the occasion to find out if the order has being adhere to and respond to issues bothering on customers.
During the presentation on the Credited Advance Payment for Metering Implementation, (CAPMI) by NERC, Mr Anthony Essien explained that willing customers can be allowed to advance funds for the purchase and installation of pre-paid meters.
He said these advance payments are subsequently refunded through a rebate on fixed charge element of their electricity bills, adding that the introduction of CAPMI minimizes estimation billing and enhances revenue collection.
He however said NERC came up with the concept due to numerous customer complaints indicating a high level of dissatisfaction with the way they are billed by distribution companies, adding that the commission considers it expedient to explore other avenues of ensuring that customers are metered to eliminate wildly estimated bills.
However, the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC) in its presentation at the event, said the company had to entered into a partnership with a commercial bank, Ecobank, to ensure that willing Consumers get pre-paid meters within 45 days
Engr. Godwin Orovwvororo said PHED has a policy to fully meter all her customer and end the abuse of estimated billing and reduced commercial losses.

L-R Chairman, Civil Service Commission, Rivers State, Mr. Ngo Martyns Yellowe, Chief Nabil Saleh, GM, Radio Rivers, MS. Mediline Tador, Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Hon. Chuma Chiny, M/D, Welted Ltd., Mr. Perro Egbe, Commissioner for Environment, Rivers State, Dr. Nyema Weli, Waste, Management, Rivers, Ade Adegun, Perm. Sec. Ministry of Commerce and Industry, MS. Kadilo Brown, Commissioner for Transport, Hon. George Tolofari during public presentation of the yellow page Directory, organised by commerce and industry ministry in Port Harcourt, recently. Photo: Egberi .A. Sampson

Business

Boat Mishap Kills Pastor, Wife And Church Members In Brass Water

Published

3 days ago

May 18, 2026

The Tide

A boat accident in Bayelsa state has killed a serving Pastor, Wife and other church members along Brass waterways

The sad incident happened at Odioama in Brass local government area of Bayelsa State when the Pastor, wife and members of his church were in a programme.

?Tide confirmed that the lifeless body of the Pastor’s wife has been found and deposited in a mortuary while the remains of her husband ,the Pastor is yet to be recovered

as search party are still ongoing.

Although the real cause of the boat Mishap is not yet known as at the time of this report, our Correspondent gathered that the identities of the Pastor, wife and church members were not disclosed to the public.

The mishap, Tide gathered occurred on Friday morning when the church members were on a boat transit

The Bayelsa State government and the state police command are yet to issue official statement’s on the sad accident

By: CHINEDU WOSU

Business

Rivers Workers Seek Scrapping Of Contributory Pension Scheme

Published

3 days ago

May 18, 2026

The Tide

The Rivers State Council of Nigeria Civil Service Union has called on the State Government to urgently scrap the contributory pension scheme, describing it as unfavourable to long-serving civil servants in the state.

Chairman of the union, Chukwuka Osuma, said this in an interview with newsmen in Port Harcourt, recently.

Osuma said the current pension structure has continued to worsen post-retirement hardship for workers.

He noted that the contributory pension scheme had failed to provide adequate retirement security for workers who had spent many years in service, especially those approaching retirement age.

According to him, civil servants who had served for more than 20 years were among the worst affected under the scheme, insisting that many retirees could no longer cope with prevailing economic realities.

He also informed that the Union has made moves to showcase their concerns, pleading with Governor Siminalayi Fubara to abolish the pension policy and introduce a more favourable arrangement for affected workers.

“The union was not opposed to pension reforms, the contributory scheme should only apply to newly employed workers or those with fewer years in service”, he said.

Osuma explained that workers who had already spent decades in the civil service ought to remain under a more secure pension structure capable of guaranteeing stability after retirement.

The labour leader further noted that inflation and the rising cost of living had continued to erode the value of retirement savings, thereby increasing the suffering of pensioners across the country.

He also appealed to the state government to consider extending the years of service in the civil service from 35 to 40 years and the retirement age from 60 to 65 years.

Osuma argued that such adjustment had become necessary in view of present-day economic realities and changing conditions in the workplace.

The unionist also reviewed that similar policies had already been adopted in some sectors and jurisdictions, expressing optimism that the State could also implement the reforms for the benefit of workers.

He however, commended Governor Fubara for approving an N85,000 minimum wage for workers in the state, noting that the amount was above the national benchmark of N70,000.

Osuma also acknowledged the government’s efforts in the area of workers’ promotions and bonuses, but insisted that pension reforms and extension of years of service remained critical to the long-term welfare and stability of civil servants in Rivers State.

By: King Onunwor

Business

FG Begins South-West Tour To Promote New Cooperative Bank

Published

1 week ago

May 13, 2026

The Tide

The Federal Government has launched the South-West zonal engagement and ministerial advocacy tour on the Cooperative Bank of Nigeria share capital mobilisation, sensitisation and cooperative sector digitalisation.

Reports say the initiative was launched through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.

According to reports, the advocacy tour, organised by the ministry’s Federal Department of Cooperatives, began on Monday in Lagos.

Speaking at the event, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security and Supervising Minister of Cooperative Affairs, Dr Aliyu Abdullahi, said the initiative was part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Abdullahi described the exercise as a strategic effort to reposition the cooperative sector as a key driver of inclusive economic growth, financial inclusion, enterprise development, food security and national prosperity.

“Today represents a defining moment in our collective determination to reposition the cooperative sector as a major driver of inclusive economic growth, financial inclusion, enterprise development, food security and national prosperity,” he said.

The minister noted the modern cooperative movement in Nigeria originated in the South-West following the 1934 Strickland Report, which led to the enactment of the Cooperative Societies Ordinance of 1935.

According to him, the decision to commence the sensitisation and share capital mobilisation tour in the region is symbolic, as it marks a return to the roots of cooperative development in the country.

Abdullahi said the advocacy tour was a direct outcome of resolutions reached at the 8th Regular Meeting of the National Council on Cooperative Affairs held in Abuja in March 2026.

He said the council approved the Renewed Hope Cooperative Reform and Revamp Programme, a comprehensive framework designed to strengthen the cooperative sector and align it with the administration’s goal of building a one-trillion-dollar economy.

“The reform programme focuses on seven strategic pillars, including governance reforms, cooperative financing and the establishment of the Cooperative Bank of Nigeria, digitalisation, capacity building, value chain development, inclusion of youths, women and persons with disabilities, and strategic partnerships,” he said.

He said the establishment of the Cooperative Bank of Nigeria and the digitalisation of the cooperative sector were the two major transformational initiatives under the programme.

“The Cooperative Bank of Nigeria is aimed at rebuilding a strong cooperative financial system capable of supporting cooperators, farmers, artisans, traders, SMEs, youths, women and persons with disabilities with accessible and affordable financial services,” he said.

Abdullahi emphasised that the proposed bank would be government-enabled but not government-funded.

“Government is not establishing the bank as an owner, nor will it rely on Treasury Single Account funds.

“The role of government through the FMAFS is to provide policy support, stakeholder coordination, regulatory facilitation and an enabling environment under the Renewed Hope Cooperative Reform and Revamp Programme,” he said.

Also speaking, the Lagos State Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Mrs Folashade Ambrose-Medebem, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to cooperative sector transformation.

She described cooperatives as critical tools for promoting inclusive growth, grassroots productivity, food security, financial inclusion and community wealth creation.

Ambrose-Medebem said Lagos State would continue to support reforms and collaborate with stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of the Renewed Hope Cooperative Reform and Revamp Programme (2025–2030).

“Together, let us build a cooperative ecosystem that is modern, transparent, digitally enabled, financially inclusive and globally competitive.

“Let us build cooperatives that not only mobilise savings, but also mobilise prosperity,” she said.