Reps panel summons DISCOs, GENCOs over failure to perform social responsibility

The House of Representatives Committee on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has summoned electricity distribution companies (DISCOs) and the generation companies (GENCOs) over failure to perform their corporate social responsibility commitments in host communities.

The committee expressed displeasure over the failure of the chief executive officers of DISCOs and GENCOs to honour its invitations, NAN reports.

A member of the committee, Obiageli Orogbu, disclosed this in Abuja during an investigation into the compliance of the DISCOs to corporate social responsibility requirements in their host communities.

The lawmaker lashed at the DISCOs for sending junior managers to represent them without a written authorisation, adding that it was disrespectful for GENCOs not to send representatives.

She also frowned at their failure to submit their five-year audited accounts and detailed information on the corporate social responsibility activities carried out within their host communities.

Orogbu ordered the Clerk of the committee, Mr Emmanuel Chukwu, to send another summons to the DiSCOs and GENCOs to appear at a date in June.

She stated that failure to honour the invitation would compel the committee to take appropriate measures to force them to appear before it.

Orogbu emphasised that the meeting was an interactive session intended to confirm how the DISCOs and GENCOs had been relating with their host communities regarding corporate social responsibility programmes.

She stated that the committee had the mandate of the leadership of the House to undertake the assignment and as such would expect maximum and diligent cooperation from the electricity companies.