The contractor, who is the representative of Effanga Electrical Nigeria Limited, Chief E. E Akpanika, was arrested on Friday after he had gone to the Independent National Electoral Commission office in Calabar to collect the sum.
His company quoted the sum as permission fee to install the new transformer.
Explaining the details of the development to journalists shortly after the contractor was arrested, the INEC Resident Commissioner in the state, Mr. Mike Igini, said the item tagged ‘permission to install’ as quoted by the contractor in his quotation to the commission.
Igini said, “We came into office here in Calabar on July 26, 2010 to meet monthly electricity estimate bill of between N77, 000 and N80, 000 but we hardly get light for even three hours in a week. All efforts to get new meter failed before l came, and precisely since July 2011, INEC has not been on PHCN power supply. Would a private company that has monthly wage bill to pay its workers allow that?
“All complaints made to PHCN on this outrageous bill was not attended to yet monthly bills were sent and we requested to be disconnected from PHCN and reported to Abuja INEC head-office that sent us a new 100kva generator and since then we have been on generator, a huge cost to us and revenue loss to PHCN.
“The meter was only mounted around May this year and when we expected light to be on, we were told that our transformer was bad and needed to be replaced. Outrageous quotations were brought ranging from N1.2m to N1.4m for a refurbished transformer. But in Lagos, we secured a brand new with cost of transportation to Calabar at N900, 000.
“To install the transformer, we were asked to pay installation fee of N4.2m by a PHCN official, who also said we should go to any of their contractors. Some of the contractors put forward both cost of materials and installation outrageous fees of various amount of monies ranging from N1.8m to N2.4m to install an equipment of N900, 000.
“In all the quotations, l found a curious item common to all called ‘permission to install new transformer’ (not replacement) ranging from N120, 000 to N300,000. And when l sought to know why, no clear explanation was given.”
Igini wondered what the essence of public policy was if workers in the vital sector like power could be sabotaging genuine efforts made by the present administration to get the process right.
However, when contacted, the Business Manager of PHCN, Calabar District, Mr. Chukwuemeka Otiji, said he had no power to grant the approval of a 33KVA transformer.
This, he explained, was why he refused to approve a letter written for permission on behalf of INEC by Effanga Electrical Nigeria Limited.
Otiji added that the said collection of statutory fee for installation of transformer had been suspended, adding that PHCN did not ask the contractor to collect any fee.
Punch
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