By Thompson ABISOLA
The Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) said it has recruited no fewer than 1,400 personnel in the past four years to boost its workforce for better service delivery.
The Managing Director of the utility company, Mrs Funke Osibodu, disclosed this at a media parley in Benin on Monday.
Osibodu said within the same period, the BEDC invested heavily in manpower development, training over 5,700 of its workforce in its operational states of Ondo, Ekiti, Delta and Edo.
She further said management had put in place structures, processes and infrastructure to lay the required foundation to run an efficient organisation.
Besides investment in human capacity development, the BEDC has upgraded as well as expanded its network in addition to metering, to enhance its service delivery, she said.
“We are pleased to say that based on the recent publication by the National Bureau of Statistics, BEDC is adjudged to have the highest number of meters among all Discos.
“We will continue to be relentless in metering our customers in Edo, Delta, Ekiti and Ondo states,” she said.
On the issue of power supply, the BEDC boss noted that there has been great improvement, as some areas now enjoy 24-hour power supply.
“In Edo State, power availability has improved. Those that enjoyed two hours in 2013 now have between six and 10 hours power supply daily.
“In the same vein, there is 18-24 hours power for commercial outlets including 23 hotels and government establishments, as well as 10 street lights in some parts of Benin City.
“The same thing is also applicable in other states where we operate.”
Osibodu noted that with the improvements and initiatives expected in the later part of the year, customers would have a good story to tell about the BEDC.
