International Community and especially the development partners have sought Federal Government firm assurance that the legacies of the former Minister of Power, Prof Bart Nnaji would be sustained.
All the development partners stormed the Power Ministry at the weekend to seek assurance that the unprecedented progress made in the Power sector during his tenure of the former Minister are pursued diligently to an impressive end.
The UNIDO Country Rep, Dr. Patrick Kormawa, who led others to the Ministry, said UNIDO is working in concert with other Agencies for rural electrification of the country especially in renewable energy sector.
"When Brussels, got the news, it was alarmed and feared the continuity of the reforms in the sector" EU head of Cooperation Mr.P. Philippe stressed.
"The Nigerian People had witnessed improved living standard just for the improved electricity supply, it will be a grave setback if things start slowing down at this point" one of the development partners insisted.
The UNIDO Country Rep said "we have no choice than to continue our support even though we were disappointed at the recent event".
The Partners also sought to know where the privatization process was now and whether Nigeria was still committed to the time lines etc.
The world bank representative at the meeting, Erik Feinstiom said he was at the last power summit in Asaba, Delta State which was presided over by Nnaji, and we were not left in any doubt that his (Nnaji's) focus, passion and direction of the sector was taking the country to the promised land.
One of the visitors who could not reveal her name said" in every government, there are people who add momentum to an administration. Professor Nnaji is just one of the few whose presence in this Administration, had added integrity to the regime. Personally, allowing Nnaji to go the way he did, is certainly a setback. How would you allow people like Dr. Okonjo Iweala go? The whole episode was wrongly handled "she said.
The Minister of state, Mr. Darius Ishaku told the bemused audience that everybody in Nigeria was as alarmed too at the sudden exit of the former Minister, Prof. Nnaji.
Ishaku emphasized "we are part of the immense institutions Prof Bart Nnaji had made and the structures he put on place. He took us along all the way.
I want to assure you and reassure you that this government would continue to build on and nurture all the institutions he had put in place".
"Privatization is on going with all the time lines. Continue to give us all your usual maximum support as we have no choice but to continue from where he stopped".
On the ongoing discussion with the labour, Minister Ishaku said" we have moved beyond NUEE, Ministry of Power and Ministry of Labour level right now. The matter is being handled at the highest level with TUC, NLC and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation resolving the remaining one or two issues.".
"Federal Government he said cannot break its own laws but would continue to bend backward as it has continued to do in the past, to the workers in the sector"
The focus now is the 100 days mandate. Advise us, give us assistance, nothing will change" Ishaku finally reassured the delegation.
At the meeting were representatives of DFID, JICA, AFD, EU, World Bank AFDB, GIT, UNIDO, UNDP, USAID among others.
Via: Federal Ministry of Power - Official Press Release