By Francis Ewherido
The average Nigerian is helpless in too many situations. We were helpless over the choice of military rulers, who ruled us; now we are essentially helpless over the choice of civilian leaders in leadership positions.
They force themselves on us via rigging, thuggery and brute force. On the road, men in uniforms, all manner of uniforms, force us to bribe them against our will, whether we are right or wrong; whether. Water Corporation sends bills even when the taps are dry and we are expected to pay.
Energy distribution companies send bills even when there is no electricity supply and we either pay or have our power supply cut. DISCO staff go about with ladders disconnecting power supply, sometimes even after we have paid, but our bill is not displayed. They either have no records of their own or they are just being wicked. Car manufacturing companies recall their cars all over the world to fix defective parts and the products recall does not apply to Nigeria. Service providers apply highest standards in other countries, but do whatever they like in their Nigerian operations. For how long will Nigerians be used to wipe the backside?
Last November, my wife came to me that DSTV people have been bombarding her to renew our DSTV subscription and get January 2018 free. The subscription had expired since September and I never really bothered because I was busy and did not want any distractions. I only renewed it for my children during the holidays and schools had resumed. When she became insistent, I caved in and on November 30, she renewed; my children will be home shortly on holidays, I reasoned.
Surprisingly, on December 30, DSTV cut off our subscription. My wife called. After she had been kept waiting for a while, a voice came on line. She told the DSTV operator the problem and he promised to “escalate” it. By December 31, nothing happened. We decided to wait till January since it was January 2018 they promised.
At the beginning of January, my wife called again. The lady who spoke with her also promised to “escalate” the complaints. Still nothing happened. I decided that we have had enough of calling and drove to their Victoria Island office three Thursdays ago. The lady, who attended to me apologized profusely and blamed the delay for the backlog they had. He took my details and assured me she will “escalate” it and I will be reconnected within 24.
Seventy two hours later, nothing was done and I went back to the Victoria Island office, this time with my wife. The lady, who attended to us this time around, tried to bluff her way through. She said DSTV has redeemed its promise to all the people they contacted during the promo and we were not part of it. My wife then showed her text messages DSTV sent, but she countered that messages were for another promo, showmax, which is an online promo. She said the texts cannot be used to prove our case. It looked like she was even trying to delete the texts before my wife collected the phone back. Since we have had a similar experience somewhere else, my wife recorded the conversation between her and the DSTV representative who contacted her and played it. She was caged; as usual, she promised to “escalate” it and ensure the subscription was restored on or before Wednesday last week.
Before I left, I assured her that if the needful was not done as promised, I will help them to “escalate” it further and that is one of the reasons for this “epistle.” The second reason is that the average Nigerian’s rights are trampled on without recourse to any remedies. Last week I got two energy bills for the office and home. The office was N57,045.86 and the home N15,662.40. We closed the office for two weeks during the Christmas period, so who accumulated this bill.
At home, my neighbour with a prepaid meter spends about N7,000 on energy per month. How did mine come to N15,662.40? Meanwhile, the house on my right, which has not been occupied since January 2012 and was in fact demolished and rebuilt, has a bill of over N400,000! Another person around my neighbourhood, who lives alone and is scarcely home except on weekends, also has a bill of over N400,000! We have asked for prepaid meters, but they told us it is not available.
Yet, like millions of other Nigerians, we get estimated bills that are really inflated bills. Must we be punished for the ineptitude of the Distribution Companies (DISCOs)? When the power sector was privatized, many Nigerians heaved a sigh of relief, looking forward to better services. But from NEPA to PHCN and GENCO/DISCO, absolutely nothing has changed. It is the same old story of man’s inhumanity to man. Like other Nigerians, I demand that prepaid meters be distributed to all energy consumers. In the meantime, consumers should pay minimal bills, not these crazy bills they are ramming down our throats.
Back to DSTV, I am no longer crazy about DSTV the way I used to, but a promise is a debt that must be paid, otherwise we shall label DSTV as a 419 company. Now that I have “escalated” it, I hope the management of DSTV makes restitution. If not, my next port of call will be the Consumer Protection Council. If I do not get justice there, I will head to court. As a people, we are too docile, and that is one of the reasons our society is the way it is. I cannot exonerate myself from the docility of the average Nigerian, but on this DSTV matter, I will fight it till I get justice, even if thereafter I do not put on my television until the subscription expires. Thank God, they have no guns and other dangerous weapons to harass me like uniformed men; only more money and influence. I intend to fight this battle to its logical conclusion.
.
