Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila says that
unpatriotic activities of serving and retired public office holders are
responsible for the socio-economic misfortune in the power sector.
Gbajabiamila spoke while declaring open the investigative hearing
into the Federal Government’s abandoned power projects from 1999 to
date.
The Speaker, represented by the Chief Whip, Rep. Mohammed Monguno
(APC-Borno), expressed his displeasure with the state of power in the
country.
He said that the motion on the need to review government’s
expenditure on the power sector to ensure sustenance of the power reform
programme in Nigeria was referred to the Ad-hoc Committee on Thursday.
“You will agree with me that from 1999 to date, the National Assembly
has appropriated huge sums of monies in the power sector and there are
lots and much to be desired from the sector.
“The problem is you and I; we are not patriotic enough in the discharge of our responsibilities to our nation.
“Again, I want to state that it is embarrassing that when you pick-up
newspaper, what you read is probe, probe, and probe; many heads to
roll; EFCC to investigate.
“It is time in our nation building to rethink and press the reset
button on what we do, how we do them with a view to ensuring that we get
value for the monies appropriated for projects,” he said.
Gbajabiamila said that Nigerians were virtually in every part of the
world largely in search of stable electricity supply, good medical
health facilities, quality education among others.
According to him, it is time we set our hearts correcting all that is
wrong so that we can create an enabling environment for our children.
“The constitution of this Ad-hoc Committee is to enable the House in
moving forward, take a critical evaluation of monies appropriated
vis-a-vis their utilisations.
“However, in the course of carrying out this assignment, the
committee is at liberty in line with Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999
Constitution (as amended) to invite any organisation, agency, person,
either still in active service or retired to make clarification where
necessary,” he stressed.
Also, Rep. Usman Kumo (APC-Gombe) Acting Chairman of the ad hoc
committee, explained that the exercise was aimed at reviewing
government’s expenditure in the power sector from 1999 to date.
He said that committee was constituted on Wednesday with a clear
mandate to investigate the Federal Government’s abandoned power
projects.
Kumo said that the aim was to find the major encumbrances affecting
the projects and to make appropriate recommendations on the ways to
complete the projects within the life span of President Muhammadu
Buhari’s administration.
“Having established the powers and legitimacy of our action, we are
here today to provide all relevant stakeholders the platform and
opportunity to make their informed submissions and contributions on the
matter.
“We, therefore, urge you to be objective, truthful and observe decorum throughout our sitting here today,” he said.
Stakeholders at the event include Permanent Secretary, Federal
Ministry of Power, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC),
Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), management team from all the
Distribution Companies (DISCOs) and GENCOS, among others.
(NAN)