The speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila has stressed that the perennial problem of power failure in Nigeria was due to lack of patriotism by the stakeholders in the sector.
Gbajabiamila stated this Wednesday while declaring open a public investigative hearing of the House ad hoc committee on power into abandoned power projects and review of government expenditure in the power sector from 1999 to date yesterday at the National Assembly.
He lamented that despite the huge sums of monies appropriated by the National Assembly since 1999, the power sector was yet to get it right saying “ you will agree with me that since 1999 to date, the National Assembly has appropriated huge sums of money in the power sector and there are lots and much desired from the sector. The problem is you and I; we are not patriotic enough in the discharge of our responsibilities to our nation, Nigeria”
The Speaker who was represented by the Chief Whip, Mohammed Monguno (APC, Borno), the speaker expressed disappointment that “it is embarrassing that when you pick up a newspaper, what you read is probe, probe and probe; ‘many heads will roll; EFCC to investigate.
“It is time in our nation-building to rethink and press the reset button on what we do, how we do them with a view to ensuring that we get value for the monies appropriated for projects”.
Gbajabiamila noted that, while Nigerians and in every part of the world and go to different countries to search for stable electricity supply, good medical health facilities, quality education, “it is time we put our hearts into correcting all that is wrong so that we can create an enabling environment for our children”
He said Committees of the National Assembly are at liberty to invite individuals or organisations in the course of exercising their duties in line with sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 constitution (as amended).
In his remarks, acting Chairman of the Committee, Bello Kumo (APC, Bauchi) urged stakeholders at the event to be “objective, truthful, and observe decorum throughout our sitting here today”
Kumo assured that “we will be fair and balanced in our action. We shall comply with the rules of law; to ensure that the process set by the standing orders of the House and the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”
On his part, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power, Loius Edozien assured the ad hoc committee that all the agencies in the ministry were prepared with documents to respond to any query.
James Kwen, Abuja
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