By- Alambo Datonye

The Nigeria Union of Journalists, Bayelsa State Council has condemned what it describes as exorbitant and exploitative bills imposed on consumers by the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company.

A Resolution at Congress of the State Council of the NUJ held at the Ernest Ikoli Press Center in Yenagoa also frowned at imposition of estimated bills, refusal to provide meters and collection of bills by PHEDC officials using multiple individual accounts to collect bills without remitting the proceeds into the company’s official account.

Consequently, the NUJ demanded that a compensation of six hundred billion Naira be paid to consumers, residents, business owners and the Bayelsa State government for the abysmal electricity supply and financial contributions for the , maintenance of PHEDC’s facilities including acquisition and purchase of several transformers, electricity towers, pillars,feeders, wires and for the psychological damages as well as financial losses incurred by households, businesses and the State government owing to the poor power supply to the State.

A nine point Communique signed by Mr. Datonye Alambo as Chairman, Mrs. Chinyere Nikade as Secretary and Mr. Jonathan Jerry also indicates that Congress in session commends the Bayelsa State government for the efforts to install the 60 Megawatts Gas Turbines to power the Yenagoa Independent Power Project to provide uninterrupted electricity supply to the people of the State beginning from December this year.

The Communique congratulates Nigerians, the Federal Government and the government and people of Bayelsa State on the 65th Independence of the nation and 29th Anniversary of the creation of Bayelsa State..

It urges all tiers of government to do more to ameliorate the economic and finance hardships citizens face, advocating measures to address the high cost of living and skyrocketing inflation of commodities, food as well as goods and services.