Reps summon ministers, MDA’s CEOs over renewable energy investment funds
CHIGOZIE AMADI
The House of Representatives Committee on Renewable Energy has summoned the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Mr Timipre Sylva, the Minister of Finance Mr Wale Edun, Minister of Power Mr Adebayo Adelabu and the .Minister of Budget and Economic Development Sen.Atiku Bagudu and other heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies MDAs of the federal government on their investments into renewable energy.
Chairman of the House Committee Hon.Victor Afam Ogene issued the summon at a 2-day investigative public hearing at the National Assembly on Tuesday.
Aside these Ministers some other MDAs invited by the House include Energy Commission of Nigeria ECN, National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure NASENI, Nigeria National Petroleum Company Ltd NNPCL and the Rural Electrification Agency REA.
Other agencies and corporate entities invited by the House probe panel include the Ministry of Mines and Blue Economy, Nigeria Sovereign Wealth Investment Authority NSIA Niger Delta Power Holding Company Ltd, United Bank for Africa UBA Plc, Union Bank Plc and the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation OAuGF.
Declaring the investigative hearing open, the Speaker Rt Hon.Dr. Tajudeen Abbas said that the House is committed to unraveling the federal government’s investments in the renewable energy sector.
He futher stated that since 2015, Nigeria has attracted millions of dollars in the renewable energy sector adding that the hearing is geared towards finding how the parliament can help in power sector challenges.
Also in an opening remark, the House Committee Chairman Hon.Victor Afam Ogene said that the investigative hearing is to ascertain the amounts of funds invested into the renewable energy sector.
He informed the invited stakeholders that the House Committee on Renewable Energy was established in the 10th National Assembly by the Speaker Rt Hon Tajudeen Abbas to promote objectivity and transparency in the sector
He said that the investigative hearing is not a witch hunt and added that any fund fund recieved by any Ministry, Department and Agency MDA or private sector player must be accounted for in the public interest.
However, due to the absence of most of the invited Ministers and heads of these MDAs at the hearing, a member of the House Committee Hon.Joe Onuakalusi moved a motion that these public officials be summoned by the House and it was seconded by another member.
Consequently, the House Committee Chairman Hon.Ogene ruled that the House had summoned these ministers and heads of these MDAs to appear before the House Committee unfailingly on Wednesday November 6, 2024 at 1:00pm
He had earlier informed the House Committee that he received a letter from the Minister of State for Petroleum Mr Timipre Sylva who informed the panel of his absence before the committee’s invitation adding that he would make appearance on Wednesday November 6, 2024.
