Power: Reps Resolve To Probe Obasanjo, Others Again

By Ayodele Oluwafemi

The House of Representatives has resolved to probe the resources expended on reviving the power sector from 1999 till 2015, by the Federal Government.

During the plenary, on Thursday, in a motion unanimously adopted by the House it was resolved to probe the $16bn spent by the President Olusegun Obasanjo-led administration between 1999 and 2007 in the power sector.

In a motion moved by Mr Sada Soli entitled, ‘Need to review government expenditure on the power sector to ensure sustenance of the power reform programme in Nigeria.’

While moving the motion, Hon. Solo noted that  “The House notes that the Electric Power Sector Reform Act was aimed at removing the ineffectiveness of the sector in order to transform it into a more efficiently-managed sector.

 “The power sector reform was expected to open opportunities for the development of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises, increase access to electricity in processing farm produce, create job opportunities for Nigeria’s teeming graduates and enhance socio-economic development of the country.”

The lawmakers agreed  to set up an ad hoc committee to “carry out a comprehensive investigative hearing on how much money was spent on the power sector reform programme over the years without commensurate results and report back within six weeks for further legislative action.”

The House recalls that an investigative hearing was conducted by the House of Representatives in 2008 over the alleged spending of about $16bn on the power sector. The set power generation target was that by year 2020, the nation would have achieved 40,000 MW based on the alleged investments in the proposed power plants, but till date, such generation target has eluded nation.

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