By Agatha Chitumu, Abuja
DAILY COURIER – The Management of Abuja Electricity Distribution Plc (AEDC) has expressed dismay over incessant assaults and attacks on its staff by customers.
The alarm was raised via a press statement by the Chief Marketing Officer, Donald Etim on Tuesday.
The call is also coming amids endless complaints by customers and clients over the company’s poor services and delivery.
Lately, the company had complained rising incidents of attacks on its staff in the line of duty.
The recent being four incidents that were reported within a period of 2 weeks.
The statement reads in part: “We value our staff and are concerned about their utmost safety, especially when they are carrying out their lawful duties.
“We will go to the full extent of the law to ensure that any assailant is brought to justice.
”An assailant, one Moses Malam who attacked an AEDC Staff with a machete in Lifecamp District, has been charged to court for criminal trial.
“The Nigerian Police is currently investigating assault cases against one Rasheed Layinde of Chika village, Millicent Daniel and another assailant of Lugbe District,”
While expressing his aversion to the unlawful acts, the statement added: “All the attacks left the AEDC staff involved with severe bodily injuries.
“Although the perpetrators have all been arrested and one case has been arraigned in court, these incidents were completely avoidable.
“Aggression against any staff of the company is not the best approach to solving complaints or issues, as various online and offline channels have been provided to enable our customers to reach us”.
AEDC affirmed further that it is currently implementing initiatives to reduce assault on its staff by encouraging customers to use the Company’s available complaint resolution channels, the Staff Verification Portal to confirm the identity of its staff, and its whistleblowing channels to report improper conduct or illegal conduct by its staff.
“In the interest of the safety of our staff and for an improved relationship with our customers, AEDC will continue to hold community engagements with its customers to find ways to amicably resolve all pertinent issues of concern.”
The company thereafter admonished members of the public to relate peacefully with AEDC staff while assuring all its customers that the Company will continue to discharge its professional responsibility to the betterment of its entire franchise area at all times.
But reacting in a chat, an AEDC customer in Lugbe area, who refused to be named wondered why a company that failed to provide good services would be the one to start laying complains of assaults at all times.
According to the customer, the service being rendered by the company does not commensurate with the monthly collection, saying people are just being allegedly fleeced unecessarily.
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