Oscarline Onwuemenyi
18 October 2017, Sweetcrude, Abuja – The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday urged President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently appoint a separate minister for the Ministry of Power due to critical challenges facing the sector.
Mr. Babatunde Fashola is the Minister currently overseeing the combined Ministry of Power, Works, and Housing.
The Upper Chamber said the Federal Ministry of Power, Works, and Housing, is rapidly expanding its project implementation activities, rather than limit its role of providing policy direction, adding that the current minister, Babatunde Fashola, is overwhelmed by functions in other ministerial portfolios.
The Senate resolution follows a motion by Senator Mustapha Bukar on the need for the Ministry of Power under Fashola to limit its role to general policymaking.
Sen. Bukar told the Senate that the role of the ministry has prevented the regulatory agency in the power sector, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) from performing its core mandate.
He added that separating the Ministry of Power would lead to the creation of the required electricity market to attract investment in the sector.
The lawmakers also urged the federal government to immediately incorporate Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) for alternative energy projects such as Hydropower, Solar power, and Wind power projects as the power ministry does not have the capacity to manage.
