Senate committee saddled with the responsibility of
tackling issues related to power in Nigeria has been
asked to urgently work towards the resolution of all
challenges currently facing the sector.
After inaugurating the Committee on Friday, the
Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, Saraki, said the
economic woes in Nigeria could only be addressed
when "the power sector is fully made functional".
Uninterrupted Power Supply
In a statement by his media office, Senator Saraki
stressed that the immediate concern of the 8th
Senate was to use every legislative instrument at its
disposal to ensure that "light replaces the darkness"
in Nigeria.
"You will recollect in my earlier address on the June
9 when I said that Nigerians will begin to see a
proactive National Assembly that will devote itself
to rigorous thinking, a National Assembly that will
roll up its sleeves to forge a new and prosperous
Nigeria.
"Our economy cannot be prosperous without us
addressing the problems of the power sector. The
power sector is a key driver of the economy.
Whatever we do in trying to address the problems
of the power sector is essential in trying to
rebuilding economy. The power challenges that we
have are real. They are serious and many.
"There is work to be done concerning our power and
that is why you will recollect that we debated
seriously on all the issues in the power sector and
in response we made a resolution and agreed that
an ad-hoc committee be quickly set up, to be
charged with the responsibility of oversight and to
tackle the issue of generation, transmission and
distribution of electricity in Nigeria.
"Our concern is to see that we can use every
legislative instrument at our disposal to ensure that
light replaces the darkness we have," the Senate
President emphasised.
He further said the aim of the 8th Senate was to
ensure that Nigerians would begin to enjoy
uninterrupted power supply.
"I believe that the task before you is huge and it is
to ensure that this sector must be productive,
efficient, accountable and transparent."
Unwholesome Practices
Earlier, the Chairman of the 14-member Committee,
Senator Abubakar Kyari, assured the Senate
President that the Committee would carry out its
task objectively.
He said the nation's entire power value chain
required the review of extant policies to obtain
optimum performance.
"It is in line with this objective, that the committee
would be seeking explanations from the
Management of Transmission Company of Nigeria
(TCN) on the terms of their management contract
with the Federal Government as it relates to assets
inherited, funds injected into the company so far
and the achievements recorded," Kyari said.
The Committee Chairman decried a practice where
some distribution companies (Discos) reject power
load allocations in order to reduce cost.
He further said that the metering system of Discos
which places emphasis on estimated billing and
imposition of fixed charges for services not
rendered required urgent and fundamental review.
"There have been a lot of unwholesome practices
by some of these companies. The Committee has
to get down to the root of these problems
especially where provisions have been made in the
past, through appropriation, prior to privatization
and funds were not properly utilized. We must
therefore find out what brought us to this sorry
state.
"The committee is not out to witch-hunt any
individual or organisation. We are on a fact finding
mission and would pursue our mandate objectively,"
he stressed.
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