Nelson A.Osuala [15 December 2017]
The erstwhile Governor of Lagos who now seats as the Minister of Power, works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN), was shown the door yesterday,by the Senate for what the latter describes as a clear indication of 'ill-preparedness' for the 2018 budget defence for the Ministry.
The Senate arhued that Mr. Fashola's “unpreparedness to face the committee for his 2018 budget defence.” is something that must not go without rebuke. According to the Senate, such acts only deter progress in the Nation as it depicts a lack of a sense of responsibility on the part of the Minister for power.
In the same vein, the senate took a swipe at "the Rural Electrification Agency, REA , a parastatal in the Ministry of Power for planning to spend a total sum of N10 billion on solar power projects in nine universities in the six Geo- political zone of the country.
This was raised yesterday, when the Managing Director of REA, Mrs Damilola Ogunbiyi appeared before the Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe(PDP, Abia South) led Senate Committee on Power, Steel Development and Metallurgy to defend the 2018 budget proposals of the agency."
While still commenting on the Fashola case, Senator Abaribe disclosed that after scolding the Minister of Power, He apologised and wrote via its Ministry that he be given a measure of grace to reappear before the Committee, next week Monday so as to come defend the budget of the power sector of the ministry.
Corroborating the story, Vanguard added that the reason why the Minister was turned down, was because He was lacking the necessary documents to present to members of the Senate for perusal and vetting.
However, our Source informs that in respect to the solar power project of the ministry, the amiable Vice Chairman of the committee, Senator Buka Mustapher insisted that the details of the power solution projects in universities must be disclosed as well as details of “who is paying for the installations when the power sector had been privatized.”
Meanwhile, REA boss, Mrs Ogunbiyi, who responded, noted that it was the responsibility of the Federal Government to provide power in the rural areas, adding that most of the universities were located in rural areas.
She however did not define “rural areas” as demanded by the committee.
Nelson A.Osuala
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