Power probe: Ad-hoc committee empowered to summon anybody, serving or retired ― Gbajabiamila

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila on Thursday expressed displeasure over the unpatriotic activities of serving and retired public office holders who contributed to the socio-economic misfortune of Nigeria, especially the power sector.

Hon Gbajabiamila who was represented by Chief Whip, Hon. Mohammed Monguno, expressed the concern while declaring open the investigative hearing into the Federal Government’s abandoned power projects from 1999 to date.

He also noted that similar motion on the need to review Government expenditure on the power sector to ensure sustenance of the power reform programme in Nigeria, was referred to the Ad-hoc Committee on Thursday,  25th September, 2019.

“Today my fellow Nigerians, I want to state that the motions as deliberated are wake up calls to us all. You will agree with me that since 1999 – 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, Nigeria.

“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.

“You will agree with me that Nigerians are in every part of the world. Why? We go to these countries in search of stable electricity supply,  good medical health facilities, quality education etc. It is time we put 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 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) to invite any organization, agency, person, either still in active service or retired to make clarification where necessary,” he stressed.

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In his address, Hon. Usman Kumo, acting Chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee, explained that the exercise was aimed at reviewing Government expenditure in the power sector from 1999 to date.

“This Ad-hoc Committee was constituted on Wednesday,  24th July, 2019, video a resolution of the House of Representatives  (HR. 58/07/2019), with a clear mandate to investigate the Federal Government’s abandoned power projects from 1999-date, with the aim of finding major encumbrances affecting the projects and making appropriate recommendations on the ways to complete the projects within the life span of this administration.

“Having established the powers and legitimacy of our action, we are here today to provide all relevant stakeholders with 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 urged.

Some of the stakeholders who attended the investigative hearing are: Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Power; Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), the management team from all the Distribution Companies (DISCOs) and GENCOS, among others.

Recall that the Managing Director of Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Mr Usman Mohammed had last week Wednesday during an interactive session with the Body of Principal Officers accused the DISCOs of failing to invest in the sector.