Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Wilson
Published on 2024-02-16 06:26:57
Many Liberians have expressed frustration over the consistent power outages provided by the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC). The issue was brought to the attention of the House of Representatives by Representative Taa Wongbe of Nimba County District No. 9. In a written communication to the House, he requested the appearance of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Board Chair of LEC, as well as the Managing Director of the Liberia Electricity Regulatory Commission (LERC) to address the urgent matter of inconsistent power supply across Montserrado.
Representative Wongbe also raised concerns about the high salary compensation of the LEC CEO and the lack of clarity on the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) related to his role. He emphasized the impact of the power outages on residents, including forced sleep in darkness, deaths in hospitals and health facilities due to lack of electricity, and increased security risks in the affected areas.
The lawmaker highlighted governance issues at LEC, particularly the dual role of the CEO as Chairman of the Board and the high compensation of top officials at the company. He called for transparency regarding the justification for these high salaries and emphasized the need for clarification on the KPIs for the CEO’s role in improving LEC’s productivity and stabilizing electricity supply.
Upon the motion of Rep. Muka Kamara, the communication from Representative Wongbe was referred to the House’s Committee on State Enterprises, with a mandate to report back to the House within a week.
The constant power outages have had a detrimental impact on businesses and households that rely on electricity for their daily operations. The lack of prior notice for these outages has caused major disruptions and inconveniences for the affected communities. The inability to provide stable electricity has also raised concerns about the overall reliability and efficiency of the Liberia Electricity Corporation.
The House of Representatives’ decision to address this issue and hold LEC accountable for the inconsistency in power supply demonstrates a commitment to ensuring the welfare and economic stability of the Liberian people. The urgency of the matter is underscored by the lawmaker’s mention of citizens dying in hospitals due to the lack of electricity, highlighting the potential life-threatening consequences of the ongoing power outages.
In addition to addressing the immediate concerns of the power outages, there is a need to address the broader governance issues at LEC. The overlapping roles of the CEO as Chairman of the Board and the high compensation of top officials raise questions about transparency, accountability, and effective management within the organization. Tackling these issues is crucial for rebuilding public trust in LEC and ensuring that the company operates in the best interests of the Liberian people.
The response from the House of Representatives, as well as the involvement of the House’s Committee on State Enterprises, reflects a commitment to addressing the root causes of the electricity supply issues and holding LEC accountable for its performance. The public will be eagerly awaiting the report from the Committee and the subsequent actions taken by the House to improve the electricity supply in Liberia and ensure that LEC operates as a transparent and efficient utility provider.
Read the original article on New Republic Liberia
