For seven long days, I found myself in the dark, both literally and metaphorically, as I grappled with an unyielding issue: a tamper error on my prepaid meter. The spanner icon mocking me with its presence, as if to remind me of the wrenching frustration of being without power.
Frustrated and fatigued from the endless cycle of generator fumes and dwindling finances spent on fuel, I embarked on a journey to seek resolution from the very entity entrusted with providing me electricity: Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC).
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My first visit to the IKEDC office was met with the customary queues and promises of assistance. Armed with my serial number, I left with a glimmer of hope that my ordeal would soon be over.
Alas, that hope quickly faded as subsequent visits yielded no results, only hollow assurances of a code that never materialized.
In desperation, I turned to unconventional means for a solution. A stroke of luck led me to discover that a neighbour’s wife was a staff member of IKEDC. With her intervention, the elusive code was finally sent, and the error cleared within a matter of hours.
But why should it take a personal connection to prompt action from a utility company supposedly dedicated to serving its customers? This experience sheds light on a troubling reality: the nonchalant attitude of civil servants when confronted with the plight of ordinary citizens.
As citizens, we often bemoan the failings of our government and public institutions. Yet, in our frustration, we sometimes overlook our own responsibilities as members of society. The question arises: should securing basic services like electricity require personal connections or favours?
The answer is a resounding no. Our democracy hinges on the principles of equality and accountability, where every citizen is entitled to fair and efficient service delivery, regardless of their social standing or personal connections.
Before casting blame on the government or the country at large, we must first reflect on our own actions as responsible citizens. It is incumbent upon us to hold our institutions to account and demand the level of service we deserve.
My ordeal with IKEDC is a stark reminder of the systemic issues that plague our public services.
It is time for a collective awakening, where we demand transparency, efficiency, and accountability from those entrusted with our well-being. Only then can we truly claim to be a nation that serves its people, rather than one that merely pays lip service to their needs.
Ojelabi, the publisher of Freelanews, is an award winning and professionally trained mass communicator and a recipient of the D9112 Superstar Icon Award, who writes ruthlessly about pop culture, religion, politics and entertainment.
