The Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors (ANED) yesterday told the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC ), that it has the legal backing to speak for the Electricity Distrubution Companies (DisCos) that invested $1.4 billion in the power assets.

The association in its reaction to the Communique that barred them from denigrating the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, said it is relying on the same legal backing that the other associations in the sector rely on to air their views.

In a statement issued yesterday, ANED Chief Executive Officer, Azu Obiaya said the association and its activities are guaranteed by Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria under the right of association.

It said, “The DisCos with their formation of, and membership of ANED, are exercising this right, not different from similar entities along the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) value chain, such as the Association of Power Generating Companies (APGC), Nigerian Gas Association (NGA) and National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), among others .”

Source: The Nation