Speaker House of Representatives, Dr. Abbas Tajudeen says the House was determined to correct the wrongs that have caused challenges in the nation’s electricity sector for the last 17 years.
The Speaker who spoke at the commencement of investigation into the power sector reform regretted that the nation’s power sector has undergone serious challenges that has hindered growth and inefficiency.
The Speaker represented by Chairman House Committee on Environment, Mike Etaba, said the House owes it to Nigerians as a constitutional duty to ensure that the reforms intended to enhance service delivery, increase capacity, and improve infrastructure.
“Electricity as we all know it, is the lifeblood of modern civilization as no nation attains sustainable progress without reliable power supply.
From our factories to our schools, our hospitals to our homes, electricity determines productivity, quality of life, and our collective economy. “Regrettably, the Nigerian power sector has witnessed numerous challenges that have hindered its growth and efficiency.
It is about time we looked into the reforms implemented over the past 17 years, to understand their successes and shortcomings, and to ensure that we pave a path that benefits all citizens”.
He said the establishment of the Ad-Hoc Committee is not only timely and necessary but to carry out a comprehensive investigation of government investment in the sector.
Chairman of the ad hoc committee, Mr. Ibrahim Aliyu said the task before the committee is to conduct an Audit and Investigate Nigeria’s Power Sector Reforms and Expenditure from 2007 to 2024.
Mr. Aliyu explained that the journey of Nigeria’s power sector over the last two decades has been marked by ambitious goals, substantial investments, but unfortunately witnessed persistent challenges.
“We aim to trace the flow of funds, assess the implementation of policies, and evaluate the effectiveness of projects and initiatives undertaken during this period. This will not only illuminate areas of success but also identify and address systemic failures and inefficiencies that have hampered our progress.
”The task ahead of us is immense, and it necessitates a collaborative approach. We are committed to engaging with all relevant stakeholders, including government agencies, private sector actors, civil society, and the Nigerian public at large”
Mr. Aliyu reiterated the commitment of the Committee in carrying out their mandate with utmost transparency, objectivity, and diligence
