Some high-profile government functionaries are expected to appear before the House of Representatives Committee on Renewable Energy on Wednesday. The functionaries include; the Ministers of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, his Science, Technology, and Innovation counterpart, Uche Nnaji, and Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu.
The Committee, led by Afam Ogene, the representative of Ogbaru Federal Constituency in Anambra State, is investigating the use of over $2 billion in investments and grants allocated for the development of renewable energy sources in Nigeria from 2015 to the present..
It was reported that the committee argued last week that despite the huge grants and investment in the sector, the power supply in the country has continued to worsen.
The investigative hearing which was scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, 5 and 6 November 2024, follows the mandate given to the Committee on June 6, 2024, to investigate Ministries, Departments, and Agencies involved in investments, procurement, and receipt of grants for renewable energy sector development.
According to reports, at the commencement of the investigative hearing on Tuesday, none of the ministers showed up, preferring to send representatives, most of whom were asked to return to their various offices.
The chairman of the committee however, expressed his disappointment at the turnout, urging the concerned ministers and other government officials to appear before the Committee unfailingly on Wednesday.
The lawmaker further reminded representatives of invited government officials that the power to summon public officers for investigation is vested in both chambers of the National Assembly.
“Let me state this again: Section 81 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (As amended) provides that ‘Each House of the National Assembly shall have power by resolution published in its journal or in the official Gazette of the Government of the Federation to direct an investigation into any matter or thing with respect to which it has the power to make laws,” he said.
Hon. Ogene also added that this power includes probing into “the conduct of affairs of any person, authority, Ministry or government department charged, or intended to be charged, with the duty of or responsibility for executing or administering monies appropriated or to be appropriated by the National Assembly.”
At the start of the hearing, the chairman requested that the Budget and Economic Planning ministry appear before the committee to deliver its presentation.
However, Felix Okonkwo, a director in the ministry, represented the minister instead.
When asked if he had the mandate of the minister to speak, Okonkwo said: “I can take some responsibilities but not all.”
Dissatisfied with the response, Ogene insisted that he return and inform his superior to attend in person on Wednesday.
“Tell your minister to appear before this committee on Wednesday. It is not meant to witch-hunt anybody. A situation where invitations are sent about three times to heads of MDAs and they would still not appear to make their presentations is not acceptable,” Ogene said.
The situation was similar when Suleiman Abubakar, Deputy Director of the Ministry of Science and Technology, represented the minister. When asked if he had been delegated to speak on behalf of the minister, Suleiman explained that his directorate had instructed him to attend the investigative hearing.
In response to the development, Ogene remarked: “You have no locus to stand in for the Minister. He should appear in person on Wednesday. We wrote to the Minister, not a directorate.”
The investigative hearing on Wednesday is also expected to include the Minister of Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, officials from the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, Union Bank of Nigeria, Niger Delta Power Holding Company, and Union Bank of Nigeria Plc.
