INTRO: In a resolution following the adoption of the motion on Power Sector Recovery Plan and Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic which was sponsored by Senator Gabriel Suswam of Benue North, the President of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan called on the Federal Government to cancel the Privatization of the Power Sector due to following reasons:
#1. Persistent Power Failure: The privatization of the power sector was geared to addressing the problem of epileptic power supply in Nigeria. The current structure were put in place under Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, but it has shown no significant improvement in the power supply in Nigeria. Electricity still remained a luxury to a vast majority of Nigerians. This was made more obvious during the Coronavirus pandemic stay at home in Nigeria.
#2. Lack of Prospects for Improvement: One could argue that the privatization of the power sector done by Goodluck Jonathan administration is still very unripe for assessment since it came into being during the immediate past administration; and more so, a work in progress. However, one of the reasons why the Senate called for the cancellation of the privatization process was the obvious lack of prospects for improvement judging from the over 5 years life span so far. In the words of the Senate President, “I think it’s time for Nigeria to consider reversing privatization of the power sector or they should just cancel the entire privatization process completely. If we leave it, we may not have power for another ten years.”
#3. DISCOs Lack Capacity: The Distribution Companies (DISCOs) in the Nigerian Power Sector have been found lacking in the capacity to deliver. The lack of capacity is observable from the lack of capital by the DISCOs who continued to ask for fund from the Federal Government even where they are private businesses, and shouldn’t be relying on the government for fund.
#4. Corruption: This is another ground upon which the Senate called for the cancellation of the privatization of the power sector. The President of the Senate expressed the commitment of the House to investigate the trillions of Naira spent on the power sector without commensurate result. As a matter of fact, the Senate mandated the Committee on Power, led by Senator Gabriel Suswam (PDP, Benue North-East), to inquire into all Federal Government interventions in the power sector since privatization of the sector to date, with a view to ascertaining adequacy of such interventions and desired impact, and report back within four weeks. It is believed that the inquiry will lay bare the frauds that bastardized efforts in the sector.
#1. Persistent Power Failure: The privatization of the power sector was geared to addressing the problem of epileptic power supply in Nigeria. The current structure were put in place under Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, but it has shown no significant improvement in the power supply in Nigeria. Electricity still remained a luxury to a vast majority of Nigerians. This was made more obvious during the Coronavirus pandemic stay at home in Nigeria.
#2. Lack of Prospects for Improvement: One could argue that the privatization of the power sector done by Goodluck Jonathan administration is still very unripe for assessment since it came into being during the immediate past administration; and more so, a work in progress. However, one of the reasons why the Senate called for the cancellation of the privatization process was the obvious lack of prospects for improvement judging from the over 5 years life span so far. In the words of the Senate President, “I think it’s time for Nigeria to consider reversing privatization of the power sector or they should just cancel the entire privatization process completely. If we leave it, we may not have power for another ten years.”
#3. DISCOs Lack Capacity: The Distribution Companies (DISCOs) in the Nigerian Power Sector have been found lacking in the capacity to deliver. The lack of capacity is observable from the lack of capital by the DISCOs who continued to ask for fund from the Federal Government even where they are private businesses, and shouldn’t be relying on the government for fund.
#4. Corruption: This is another ground upon which the Senate called for the cancellation of the privatization of the power sector. The President of the Senate expressed the commitment of the House to investigate the trillions of Naira spent on the power sector without commensurate result. As a matter of fact, the Senate mandated the Committee on Power, led by Senator Gabriel Suswam (PDP, Benue North-East), to inquire into all Federal Government interventions in the power sector since privatization of the sector to date, with a view to ascertaining adequacy of such interventions and desired impact, and report back within four weeks. It is believed that the inquiry will lay bare the frauds that bastardized efforts in the sector.
Comments
Post a Comment