OFFICE OF THE AMBASSADOR OF GOODWILL, INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION

26TH February, 2013

The Business Manager,

PHCN Ughelli District,

Patani Road,

Ughelli, Delta State

Dear Sir,

ILLEGAL INFLATION OF ELECTRICITY BILLS FOR FEBRUARY 2013

A CALL FOR IMMEDIATE WITHDRAWAL AND CORRECTIONS

On behalf of the Niger Delta Women’s movement for Peace and Development (NDWPD), we send our greetings to you. And wish to draw your attention to the Illegal Inflation of Electricity bills for February 2013 for the Niger Delta Women Resource Centre as well as the residence of its National President, Ambassador Mrs. Caroline Usikpedo-Omoniye at 2 Aro Street, Off Aro Road, Ughelli, Delta State.

We further wish to refer you to our correspondences dated 11TH August 2010, 7th September 2010, 4th February, 2011 and 24th September, 2012. Be informed that upon subsequent discussions with your management then, a meter reading device was donated by your office to the women centre and an appreciation letter was sent to your office with the hope of keeping the good relationship and for possible collaboration.

Sir, we are very disappointed that upon the installation of the meter reading device, the first bill was accurate and was immediately paid by our organization, which was followed by 2 months BLACK OUT in Ughelli with the alleged break down of the step down.

We have since expected an apology from PHCN over the non-provision of electricity which is a basic rights, instead we got an ILLEGAL INFLATED BILL amounting to N10,483.00 for the Women Center and N15, 184.00 each for the Residence of Ambassador Caroline and NDWPD sowing Tutor Mrs. Timi who is also her next door neighbor.

We want to use this medium to inform you that we are familiar with the National Electricity Tariff including the MYTO and do not have gadgets that will consume 220D and 720E as stated in these bills.

Sir, we want to recount the Trauma caused by your office with the circulation of this February 2013 bill especially the rural women who are poor and vulnerable and want to call on your management to look inward to avoid reoccurrence of this incidence.

Sir, we want to inform you that NDWPD is a human rights organization, and as a grassroots based organization we try to get justice for women who are victimized at all cost, we are aware that everybody has the fundamental human right to life and to all social amenities including ELECTRICITY irrespective of their social status.

We have earlier DISAGREE with the notion of giving EQUAL estimated bills to all resident of Ughelli

Kingdom without minding their status and the rate of Electricity Consumption in their various homes, and when they are unable to pay this exorbitant rate being imposed by your men , the end of the matter will be disconnection putting the poor citizens in acute darkness which is a violation of human rights.

We would also want to remind you that with the provisions as stated in the documents of the Nigerian Electricity regulatory Commission, Electricity bills do not increase by inflation and would demand that these bills be withdrawn and rectified using your good office while sanctions be imposed on any officer who has embarked on this dubious act at the expense of the populace in order to make money for his / herself.

With a particular reference to Mr. Salem, one of your officers who was paid for four units of meter reading Device since August 2012 for the Residence of Ambassador Mrs. Omoniye and has not installed even one, just for the purpose of this fraudulent act of imposing bills on residents and to immediately call for installments of these meters to avoid further stories.

Finally, we want to assure you that if we are unable to resolve at the earliest convenience and to allow peaceful atmosphere, we have no choice than to proceed to the appropriate authorities, including the Delta State House of Assembly (Chairman House Committee on Power ), the Economic & Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission get justice for the ransom that is being extorted at the rural areas by your men especially in Ughelli Township, and this may call for investigation of all bills that are being circulated in Ughelli, Delta State, Nigeria.

By way of background, The Niger Delta Women's movement for Peace and Development (NDWPD) is a women Non-Governmental Organization in Special Consultative Status with the United Nations ECOSOC based in Delta State with a vision to empower the Niger Delta Women and the most vulnerable people in the region and for the promotion and realization of their rights.

The vision of NDWPD is to see A Society that respects Women Human rights, Gender Equality, Women Empowerment, Peace and Free of Gender Based Violence. We envision a world for women to live in where there is Social and Environmental Justice, Gender Equality and respect for women’s human rights.

Our mission is to promote enduring peace and Women’s rights mobilization in the Niger Delta, focusing on women empowerment, conflict mediation, peace building, gender and climate change issues, girl-child education, ecological imperatives, HIV/AIDS prevention, caring for orphans and vulnerable children.

To promote economic and social advancement of the women, to support women’s rights and gender equality for women and People in the rural areas of the Niger Delta region.

It is our belief that by investing in women and girls we invest in the future and If women are empowered with skills, information, sustainable livelihoods, opportunities to fulfill their potential, plus the capacity and space to make transformatory choices, then we will have vibrant, healthy and inclusive communities free of Gender Based Violence in the Niger Delta.

Attached are the bills to enable you act accordingly. We look forward to your urgent and kind response.

Yours faithfully,

For: NDWPD

Ambassador (Mrs.) Caroline Usikpedo-Omoniye, MCIA. Mrs. Racheal Akpor
National President NDWPD Public Relations
Ambassador of Goodwill to Nigeria - International Human Rights Commission (IHRC)
Honorary Ambassador ( Special Envoy) CCLP Worldwide – Nigeria, African Representative GCAP - Feminist Task Force (Nigeria), African Coordinator Ways Women Lead