Town Hall Demands Enhanced Service Delivery and Accurate Metering from Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company

Wadata Media and Advocacy Centre (WAMAC) an NGO with the support of MacArthur Foundation held a Town Hall Meeting to Amplify the Fight against Corruption with a theme: “ISSUES OF SYSTEMIC CORRUPTION IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS; A DEEP

DIVE INTO ELECTRICITY SECTOR IN LAGOS STATE.” held on 16th December 2023 at Obudu Hall, Ibis Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos State.

Participants were drawn from the Media, Civil Society Organizations, People with Disabilities (PWDs), Traditional Rulers, Community-Based Organizations, Faith Based Organizations and as well as anti-corruption agencies, the Independent Corrupt Practices & Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), National Orientation Agency (NOA) and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).

At the end of the Town Hall meeting the following resolutions were made to fast-track the Fight Against Corruption through

Community Participation as follows:

1. The Town Hall meeting has identified the disconnect between the government and the governed as a source of mistrust and lack of accountability; and advocates for sensitization of our homes to fight corruption effectively.

2. Participants call for the active participation of stakeholders in governance, particularly CSOs, CBOs, NGOs, religious leaders, youth groups, women, as well as professionals, and unions to gradually eliminate corruption.

3. The Town Hall advocates for improved Service delivery in the electricity distribution and bemoans alleged poor service delivery by Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company and calls for proper metering of houses and businesses.

4. The Town Hall identified behavioral change as a core necessity to fight corruption, by calling on individuals to look inwards at their attitudes in their everyday life that may encourage corruption. Citizens were called to change their tendency towards corrupt practices as well. The town hall identified value reorientation as a requirement for a less corrupt society.

5. Citizens should shun all self-gratifying attitudes that have always prevented citizens from having the high moral rights to curve out corrupt practices. The town hall called on citizens to adopt core values of respect, dignity of labor, and honesty in their daily lives.

6. The Town Hall Meeting commends individuals and organizations fighting corruption and calls for an intensification of efforts to curtail the menace, and urges Governments (both Federal and States) to ensure that all public officials involved in the electricity sector are transparent in implementing all policies around electricity distribution.

7. The Town Hall meeting recommended that the government should as a matter of urgency crush the Estimated Billing System by providing prepaid Meters to electricity Consumers

8. Participants also recognized the role of traditional institutions and religious leaders to move society towards reorientation for the revitalization of the family value system to address issues of corruption.

9. On systemic corruption, the meeting identifies, bribery, estimated billings, and inadequate electricity facilities by the Electricity Distribution Companies and urges people to demand accountability in the sector.

10. The Town Hall meeting commends Wadata Media and Advocacy Centre (WAMAC) and McArthur Foundation for their efforts in the fight against corruption.

This communique was made this day 16th December 2023 at Ikeja, Lagos State.