- Kogi NDLEA arrests suspected Indian hemp dealers
- FG may review Lagos-Ibadan Expressway concession
- Soyinka, Agbeyegbe ask court to void 1999 Constitution
- PDP’ll win Bayelsa, Sokoto, C/River - Jonathan •15,000 security personnel for Bayelsa poll tomorrow
- Salami knows fate as NJC meets Feb 29
- Senate backs post-UTME
- Scrapping of TASUED is unfortunate - Adebanjo
- Committee on police reorganisation meets IGP •Set to flush out bad eggs
- I was bribed to nail Al-Mustapha, says Katako
- Borno Speaker impeached
- Boko Haram: Security beefed up in Lagos
- Husbands petition IGP over wives’ postings
- S/Court ruling: Gov Lamido, others relocate to Abuja
- Ekiti assembly scraps office of minority leader
- Akerele mourns Aluko, Mbu, Dantata •As ex-Ekiti commissioner mourns Aluko
EPILEPTIC POWER SUPPLY: Electricity union berates minister •Says he should buckle up
Written by Adunola Fasuyi Monday, 22 February 2010
The union, in a statement, said it was surprised and disappointed that the minister was not remorseful for his inability to deliver the much publicised 6,000 megawatts electricity supply to Nigerians at the end of 31 December, 2009. NUEE argued that it was obvious that the minister lacked the political will to address the power generation and distribution crises in the country.
In a statement titled: ‘Power minister strives to make PHCN scape-goat,’ signed by the General Secretary of NUEE, Comrade Joe Ajaero, the union said: “We are stunned and amazed at the attitude of the Minister of Power, Dr. Lanre Babalola.
“It is quite sordid and unheard of for the minister to urge PHCN to check gas supply crisis when the onus lies on him to effectively dialogue and resolve this issue at the inter-ministerial level between him and the petroleum minister; and thereafter give directives on implementation of agreements.
“The minister should be remorseful for his inability to deliver the much touted 6,000 megawatts as at 31 December, 2009. It is unfortunate that the minister, who ought to have been better informed of gas availability and affordability in PHCN through his constant link with his counterpart in the petroleum ministry, Rilwanu Lukman, appears to be blank.
“PHCN should not be made a scape-goat when policies, action or inaction of the authorities are not circumspect and therefore always incoherent.”
He noted that apart from the gas crisis bedeviling the industry, the union had, over time, suggested for alternative source of power generation which the authorities have continuously ignored.
He called for sincerity in policy implementation and enforcement by heads of parastatals and charged Acting President Goodluck Jonathan to leave no stone unturned in ensuring that ministers are kept on their toes in delivering the dividends of good governance and democracy to Nigerians.