RMFAC ex-chief alleges N2 trillion waste on power sector

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 Faults govs on petrol subsidy removal

APPARENTLY piqued by the comatose state of the nation's power sector, former Chairman, Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Allocation Commission (RMFAC), Hamman Tukur, at the weekend in Kaduna faulted the Federal Government for allegedly expending over N2 trillion on the power sector without tangible results.

Besides, Tukur charged Nigerian engineers to come up with homegrown solutions to the problems in the energy sector, stressing that the industrial and economic development of the country would continue to be endangered with the current epileptic power supply.

The former RMFAC chief spoke at the Sixth Engineer Mahmud Urwatu Armiya'u Foundation yearly lecture and presentation of awards organised by the Kaduna branch of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE).

Tukur submitted that between 2000 and 2007 under the leadership of President Olusegun Obasanjo, over N1.5 trillion was expended on the power sector, stressing that the issue had been "politicised as politicians have taken over the responsibilities of technocrats in the sector."

He added that unless the members of the NSE take firm control of how the "power sector should be operated, regulated, framed, guided, as a country, we will remain in our present dilemma."

Tukur said the Nigerian engineers must

"wake up and give Nigerians the reliable power they need and deserve" since the power sector is the engine room for the industrial and economic take-off of any nation.

Tukur deemed it unacceptable that such colossal amount went into the sector, "yet

Nigerians are groping in darkness."

His words: "All previous administrations in Nigeria have appreciated the important role electricity plays in the industrialisation and economic development of the country.

"Power sector spending has overshot the N2 trillion mark since year 2000 without a corresponding impact in electricity generation, transmission and distribution in the country."

Tukur spoke on the topic, "Electricity power reform: Key to industrial and economic development of Nigeria."

He described as "unfortunate" the request by the Nigerian Governors' Forum for the removal of subsidy on petroleum product as condition for the payment of the N18,000 new minimum wage.

Tukur argued that as a former insider, he knew there was enough money in the Federation Accounts that the governors could use to pay the new wage without passing the burden to the Masses.

 



The Guardian