HUNDREDS PROTEST AGAINST ESTIMATED BILLING.

Tuesday 14/8/2018, hundreds of protesters under the aegis of Landlords and Tenants Association of Nigeria (LTAN) led by one Ijora Akinolu (President of the platform), staged a protest to both Marina and Ikeja Eko Disco to registered their plight. 

The protest kick off at exactly 10am at Ijora Badia. More than Twelve communities that made up the LTAN came together to organize a protest rally against estimated billing. Different placards raises fundamental demands concerning the issue of crazy bill. 

Demands like No Light! No Payment! No More to Estimated Billing! If no Prepaid Metre, then no Payment Exceeding N600 per Room Monthly!  and others were all raised. Solidarity songs were sang. The protest was peaceful and well conducted by the steward known as "Task Force". Different communities that are affiliates of Landlords and Tenants Association of Nigeria were fully represented. 

Ijora Badia, Amukoko, Ajegunle, Orile Iganmu etc in their numbers were in the protest ground. Members of Coalition for Affordable and Regular Electricity (CARE) were at the rally to give solidarity to the protesters. CARE in the rally declared the re-nationalization of the power sector under the democratic control and management by workers and the consumers. 

That is the only way forward to resolve this continue darkness supplied and the massive exploitation of the consumers the Eko Distribution Companies for Four years and eight months have been issuing to the consumers. If the government fails to do nothing about it. The protest will automatically continued. This was the general feeling of the protesters including those who sympathize with the protest. 

At Marina, the management of Eko Distribution Company (EKEDC) were deeply afraid down to their bone that the protesters will eat up their soul because of the massive exploitation they EKEDC had been issuing the consumers for the past 4 years. The fear of coming out to address the protesters was heavily notice. For the whole period the protesters were there. The EKEDC management didn't come out to address them. 

The whole road was heavily filled up to the brim with members of Landlord and Tenants Association of Nigeria. The same was also observed at the Ikeja Electricity Company at Alao Hausa, Ikeja. Not on till there were pressure from below that the management decided to receive LTAN statement. Leaders of the protest were asked questions on the causes of this protest. 

Prince Rilwan Ijora Akinolu addresses the press and said. If the Distribution Company can't issued prepaid metre in time soon. The Association will continue paying N600 per room. In fact, according to Rilwan they plan to drag it down to N300 if the campaign intensify. Other leaders of the Group like Dr. Robinson said. The crazy bill is exploitative and even higher to the N18000 minimum wage.  He called for No Light! No Payment! 

Members of the Coalition for Affordable Regular Electricity who were at the protest rally to give solidarity is in full support with the demands of the group against the exploitation, extortion and the terroristic crazy bill issued to the poor masses. We in CARE believe that the ongoing protest breaking out virtually in all corners of Nigeria is fundamentally caused by the failed policies of privatization of the power sector. 

In solidarity with LTAN and all independent groups and organizations leading pockets of struggles in Ajegunle and elsewhere. The Coalition for Affordable Regular Electricity is of the proposal for us all as independent groups to form a United Front in order to further intensify the campaign in Ajegunle. A United Front of such nature can help to force through some of our demands and equally put forward the re-nationalization of the power sector under workers control and management. 

CARE also is in solidarity with the recent National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) who went on strike base on the terrible working condition and other related Labour issues. In the light of this, we in CARE are of the view that the Ayuba NLC and the Ajaero ULC should unite to declare for a Day of Action for the re-nationalization of power sector under workers control and management. 

For us in CARE such kind of action will further strengthen the pockets of campaigns and community resistances breaking out in different communities in Nigeria. It will also give more colouration to the struggle and equally exposed the failed policies of the so-called change government of the Buhari led APC administration. CARE calling for a coalition of all independent groups, will fully support in any pro-active labour action of the NUEE if declare subsequently.

By
Fidel Davy
LIFEINSLUM