Stakeholders demand improved electricity to enhance education

Stakeholders have called on power sector operators and the Federal Government to improve electricity supply for better and quality access to education.

They made this call recently at the 2017 Wole Soyinka Media Lecture Series and launch of the Regulators Monitoring Programme (REMOP) in Abuja.

The event, organised by the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ), was to also commemorate Professor Wole Soyinka’s 83rd birthday, the centre’s Coordinator, Mrs. Motunrayo Alaka, said in a statement.

In his keynote speech, former acting Chairman of the Nigerian Electric Regulatory Commission (NERC), Mr. Anthony Akah, said electricity was central to all aspects of human life and a key driver of successful basic education.

He, however, said low investment, poor infrastructure and the penchant for private investors to flout operational regulations had worsened the sector more than ever.

The Deputy General Manager, Planning and Research Strategy for NERC, Mr. Chinedum Ukabiala, also explained the channels of seeking redress on matters of overbilling, unavailability of prepaid meters and other related issues through the provisions of law.

United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator/UNDP Resident Representative, Edward Kallon, said about 65 per cent of schools in Nigeria lacked access to electricity and that this made learning difficult.