Business

Cooperate With Intended Meter Providers, Association Urges DISCOs

Published

8 years ago

April 6, 2018

The Electricity Meters Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (EMMAN) has appealed to the Electricity Distribution Companies (DISCOs) to cooperate with the intended Meter Assets Providers (MAP) to bridge the wide metering gaps in Nigeria.
The Executive Secretary of EMMAN, Mr Muideen Ibrahim, made the appeal in an interview with newsmen in Lagos recently, against the backdrop of metering challenges in the country.
“ I appeal to Discos to cooperate with the intended meter providers, because the only language electricity consumers understand currently is metering of their premises which Discos have not been doing.
“ Now that MAPs has come up, it is another scheme that can be explored so that consumers will be metered as and when due,” he said.
The source reports that the implementation of MAP regulation recently introduced by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, (NERC), takes off on April 3, 2018.
MAP was introduced in a renewed bid toward ensuring that electricity customers only pay for what they actually consumed.
The regulation provides for the supply, installation and maintenance of end-user meters by other parties approved by the commission.
Ibrahim said that the appeal became necessary as some new meter providers would be given licences to commence massive installation of meters to electricity consumers to fast-track closure of metering gaps.
The EMMAN scribe said that the new regulation on metering would stand as a relief for electricity consumers which would enable them to get meters as quickly as possible.
He said that the new arrangement was aimed at eliminating the estimated billing practice; attracting private investment into the provision of metering services; and closing the metering gap through accelerated meter rollout in power sector.
According to him, the new metering regulation initiated by NERC was commendable, which I described as a step in the right direction.
Ibrahim also expressed the association’s profound gratitude to Mr Babatunde Fashola, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, for his concern and commitment toward addressing the metering gap in the sector.
“We need major financial institutions like Central Bank of Nigeria, World Bank, African Development Bank and others to come into that investment profile to guarantee long-term stability.
“The most important is that we must have sufficient head room in terms of asset base or credit worthiness of each of us that wants to apply as a MAP and be able to enjoy long-term credit line from such financial institutions.
“I know that this is possible. However, the good thing about this MAP policy is that, there are two ways to go about it.
“Consumers can as well pay for the prepaid meter willingly, and as well, they can opt not to pay, but spread the payment over a period of time.
“The fact that there is liberty for consumers to pay and install them with prepaid meter instantly will provide liberation for consumers from depending on estimated billing.
“This will be a great achievement for the government and the consumers,’’ Ibrahim added.
It would be recalled recalls that on March 28, Dr Usman Arabi, the Head, Public Affairs Department of NERC, said that the regulation was expected to fast-track the closure of the metering gap and encourage the development of independent and competitive meter services in the sector.
Arabi said that the MAP (Regulation No. NERC/R/112), which would become effective on April 3, 2018, introduces meter asset providers as a new set of service providers in Nigeria electricity supply industry.
According to him, as assets with a technically useful life of 10-15 years, the regulation provides for the third-party financing of meters, under a permit issued by the commission, and amortisation over a period of 10 years.
“The electricity distribution companies, in line with their licencing terms and conditions, are obliged to achieve their metering targets as set by the commission under the new regulation.
“The contracting of MAP shall be through an open, transparent and competitive bid process, thus ensuring that meters are provided at a least cost to electricity customers,’’ he said.

Business

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

Published

1 day 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

1 day 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

6 days 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.