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[PRESS RELEASE] FG's Directive to CBN challenges the legality and operational independence of national oil company
AdminFG's directive to CBN to take over crude oil sales proceeds from NNPCL is not legal, undermines the operational independence of the national oil company
Without prejudice to the possibility of any good that was intended in the decision of the Federal Government to make the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) take over the responsibility for crude oil sales proceeds from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), it must be clearly stated that the action is not legal in its application.
Although, as usual, of the current administration, little has been communicated to the public about explaining details of the decision.
According to what is publicly available, the President has issued a directive that henceforth, the NNPCL would submit receipts for crude oil sales to CBN for vetting and documentation.
Whatever may be the merit of the new arrangement, the presidential directive is a violation of the legal status of the NNPCL.
It is an arbitrary order capable of undermining the operational independence of the NNPCL.
By this order, Mr. President has wrested control of the finances of the NNPCL and donated the same to the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank of Nigeria.
This is an unprecedented act, without any legal or ethical basis. It is also a violation of the principle of due process in public administration.
State-owned enterprises are not subject to such arbitrary orders and have full control over their finances within the confines of their respective establishment laws.
The NNPCL is a creation of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021 (PIA), which was signed into law by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on 16 August 2021.
The PIA makes extensive provisions for the formation, structure, governance, and operation of the NNPCL as an independent limited liability company in Sections 53 to 65 of the Act.
The government must, therefore, respect the provisions of the law and allow the NNPCL to run as an independent company based on sound commercial objectives and in line with international best practices and standard principles of corporate governance.
Only then would the new NNPCL grow into a formidable institution with track records, requisite technical and financial capacity, and readiness to operate in public space.
Any attempt to undermine the operational independence of the NNPCL will be a hindrance to any chances of attracting investments and attaining global relevance in the Petroleum Industry.
Let it also be stated that the Central Bank Act 2007 does not confer on the Central Bank of Nigeria, any responsibility for vetting the transactions of, or formulating and maintaining the internal controls and internal audits in state-owned enterprises, public or private.
The CBN should be allowed to perform its core functions as provided in the extant law.
To enhance transparency and accountability in the operation of the NNPCL, its bank accounts for crude sales proceeds (for example at Morgan Stanley) and the entire crude sales conversion circle can be trailed by Nigeria Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (NEITI) and CBN.
Amongst other supportive measures to enhance transparency, the NNPCL board members can be better selected and reconstituted to include, if desired, representatives of the CBN and NEITI.
Atiku Abubakar
Vice President of Nigeria, 1999-2007
1st February, 2024.
Kayode Egbetokun, inspector-general of police (IGP), has ordered the restriction of vehicular movement in 26 states, where run-off and by-elections will take place.
In a statement on Thursday, Muyiwa Adejobi, force spokesperson, said the restriction will be from 12 a.m to 6 p.m.
The by-elections are fixed for February 3 in various constituencies across 26 states.
The by-elections are to be conducted due to the death or resignation of members of the national and state houses of assembly.
In some constituencies, the court ordered run-off elections.
The elections will fill vacancies in three senatorial districts, 17 federal and 28 state constituencies across 80 local government areas.
Individuals on essential services like officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), accredited media personnel, and emergency responders are exempted.
The IGP also banned security aides attached to very important persons (VIPs) from going to the polling booths and state-owned security outfits from election security management.
“Citizens are encouraged to report any suspicious activities to specified authorities. Numbered to call: 08034040439 (CP Elections); 08031230631 (Toll Free); 08057000001, 08057000002 (Complaint Response Unit); you can also reach us at @ngpolice (Facebook); @PoliceNG (X); This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (e-mail),” the statement reads.
Egbetokun warned of the legal consequences of disrupting the election process.
‘Give Reforms A Chance’: Tinubu Seven Months Old In Office, He Needs More Time — FG Tells Nigerians
AdminThe Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris Malagi is calling on Nigerians to be patient with the reforms of the Bola Tinubu government.
Tinubu, who came into office in May, initiated a string of reforms including the floating of the naira and the removal of the much-debated fuel subsidies. The moves have triggered a spike in the cost of living with inflation soaring.
But Malagi believes these are bound to happen, maintaining that in the long run, these reforms would yield fruit.
“I want you to remember that the President is seven months old in office. I am not going to make excuses that seven months is just a short time,” he said on Thursday’s edition of Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily.
“But for a long-term plan, you need a lot more time to put structures. But of course, as you trudge along, there will be shocks, turbulence, and occasional dislocations that you would find. But the vision of the President is very clear: he wants to take Nigeria to the desired prosperity. He works day and night to achieve that. Every day, all the ministers and everyone are working in that direction but the results are not seen yet. We ask Nigerians to be a little more patient.”
While admitting that the government is aware of the hardships Nigerians are facing, the minister reassured that the country’s leadership is working tirelessly to reverse the trend.
According to him, President Tinubu’s government had in the wake of the subsidy removal introduced some measures to curtail the impact of the move.
He listed some of them to include the wage awards to Federal Government workers and plans to roll out CNG buses across the country.
Nigeria’s labour unions – Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) – had repeatedly threatened strikes over the high cost of living.
In fact, in August, the unions downed tools with businesses, government offices, and markets closed for a day in the capital Abuja. But the strike was met with a mixed response from businesses in the economic capital Lagos.
Ahead of the primaries for the September 21 governorship election in Edo, the state chapter of the Labour Party (LP) has declared that any aspirants who cannot afford the fee for expression of interest and nomination form lacks the capacity to run for governorship election.
The party state chairman, Ogbalol Kelly, stated this on Wednesday in Benin while speaking on the N30 million fee charged by the party, among other issues.
Kelly said the N30m nomination fee is the lowest compared to the other two major political parties contesting the election charged.
He explained that the cost of elections into political offices in Nigeria is quite expensive as witnessed from the recent general elections.
“Aside being qualified to contest election, aspirants must also be ready to show capability and capacity to fund campaigns and other election requirements.
“Therefore, any aspirant who cannot afford the fee lacks the capacity to run for the governorship election,” he added.
Kelly said funding political parties is a challenge and that the sale of forms is a major source through which political parties are funded.
“Issues that may arise as a result of primaries and election itself which has to do with litigation arising from such activities as well as other logistics issues, make it imperative for the parties to charge a reasonable fee like ours, so that it can adequately discharge its responsibilities during and after the elections,” he stated.
He disclosed that two governorship aspirants had bought the party forms, a man and a woman, urging others to do same.
Kelly appealed to the governorship aspirants to make the necessary sacrifice by participating in the exercise, assuring them the party is determined to ensure a level playing field for all aspirants leading to the emergence of a credible candidate.
He said the party had reduced the fee for women by 50 per cent in order to ensure their participation in the governorship election.
Meanwhile, Kelly denied allegation that the party received a sum of N500m from the state government in order to feature a neophyte as its candidate in the election.
He noted that the guideline currently released by the leadership of the party with regard to governorship election in the state is in line with the provision of the constitution and the electoral act.
Former Deputy Clerk to the National Assembly, Dr Olayide Owolabi Adelami, was on Thursday, sworn in as the new Deputy Governor of Ondo state, following the inauguration of the former deputy governor, Lucky Ayedatiwa, as the governor of the state.
Ayedatiwa was inaugurated on the 27th of December, 2023, following the death of late governor Rotimi Akeredolu, in a hospital in Germany.
The swearing ceremony held at the International Events Centre, Dome, in Akure, the state capital, was sequent to Adelami’s confirmation by the state House of Assembly after his nomination last week.
The state Chief Judge, Justice Olusegun Odudola, administered the Oaths of Allegiance and Office on the new deputy governor.
Ayedatiwa in his remarks, disclosed that the dissolution of the State Executive by him last week was in carried out in good faith and to rejuvenate and reinvigorate the current administration in the state.
The governor said, “The decision was borne out of genuine response to the yearnings and aspirations of the people as well as the need to rejuvenate and reinvigorate this administration for maximum delivery on our mandate.
“We also needed to minimize unnecessary distractions usually associated with Cabinet Members and other appointees in an election year like we have in Ondo State.
“This is the standard practice in sane climes. It is important for government to be less encumbered by politicking and pave the way for interested individuals to pursue their aspirations while simultaneously guaranteeing continued enjoyment of good governance to our people in the Sunshine State.
“We have a sacred duty to our people not to sacrifice good governance on the altar of individual, though legitimate, pursuit of political aspirations. We harbour neither ill wind nor animosity towards no one.”
He acknowledged the ecstasy that greeted the nomination and appointment of Adelami as testimony to his acceptance and if right choice, saying “we are bringing on board a gentleman of stellar quality, impeccable character and rich administrative acumen as Deputy Governor.
He, however, challenged the new deputy governor “to handle your portfolio in a manner to sustain this euphoria, because as it is often said, it is easier getting to the top than to remain at the top.
“It is our expectation that you will provide fresh ideas and new drive to support this administration in consolidating our legacy projects, building a sustainable socio-economic base as encapsulated in our Redeemed agenda; and pilot the politics of the state to a higher level of humility, justice and harmony as you serve the citizens.”
In his acceptance speech, the new deputy governor pledged to build on his previous performance by supporting Ayedatiwa in providing good governance to the people of Ondo State.
Adelami said “I’m here to join hands with Governor Lucky Orimisan Ayedatiwa to serve you and ensure that lives are made more meaningful for you in all facets.
“My wealth of experience in both public and private sectors coupled with my connections nationally and internationally are available for you to explore for the wellbeing of our people.
“I want to therefore appeal to all our people in Ondo State at home and abroad to kindly support Mr Governor and me in our sincere desire to entrench good governance in our Sunshine State.
“I will make available my wealth of experience in both public and private sectors for the transformation of our dear sunshine state.
“I equally plead with you for more cooperation with our dear governor to foster great collaboration and unalloyed unity for the development of our state to the admiration and pride of our great leader and President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who has been very supportive to our state.”
Some Nigerian civil servants have complained about the “inexplicable’’ delay in payment of the January salaries in spite of improved government revenue.
The civil servants spoke in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria on Thursday in Abuja.
As at Tuesday, February 1, Nigerian government workers are yet to receive their January emolument.
According to one of the civil servants, Ibrahim Ali, it is becoming a culture for the Federal Government to delay payment of monthly salaries.
“The situation is no longer acceptable for the Federal Government to keep delaying salaries without explanation.
“We are aware that the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) shared N1.1 trillion amongst the three tiers of government, so why the delay’’ he said.
Also, Hauwa Sule, condemned the idea of delaying the monthly salaries of government workers.
“This is no longer acceptable. Civil servants plan based on the monthly salary, which is not even adequate.
“In the midst of this harsh economic condition occasioned by the government’s economic policies, the list the government can do is to ensure prompt payment of salaries,’’ she said.
Emmanuel Uka, a civil servant, urged the Federal Government to take the plight of ordinary Nigerians as a priority and stop the delay in workers’ monthly salaries.
The FAAC shared N1.13 trillion among the three tiers of government as revenue generated in December 2023.
FAAC disclosed this in a communiqué issued at the end of its January meeting.
The total figure shared represented an increase of N40 billion or 3.67 per cent compared to the N1.09 trillion shared for November 2023.
The total amount includes gross statutory revenue, Value Added Tax, VAT, Companies Income Tax, CIT, Augmentations from Forex and Non-oil Mineral Revenue, and electronic money transfer levy, EMTL, among others.
However, the OAGF which did give any reason for the delay, said that civil servants would start getting their January salaries by Thursday evening.
Bawa Mokwa, the Director of Press, OAGF, gave the assurance while reacting to the complaints by government workers.
Actress Bayray Nwizu revealed a surprising truth about the Nigerian film industry (Nollywood).
According to her, aspiring actresses seeking to succeed in the industry often feel pressured to undergo a Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) in order to secure lucrative movie roles.
The actor revealed this while recently appearing on TVC’s ‘Wake Up Nigeria‘ program.
She bemoaned the loss of raw talent in the Nigerian film business, pointing out that infrastructure and capital have improved over time as producers have shifted to leveraging social media sensations to boost their movies.
She stated that while manufacturers must make a profit, there must also be a balance.
In her words:
“Ten years ago, it was you’re not fair enough, you’re not tall enough, you’re not full enough; now it’s you don’t have BBL.
“The good news is that now you don’t have to conform to them. You can take advantage of any of the streaming platforms, start creating your own content, and grow. We don’t have any excuses anymore. There are always going to be those who say, you have to do this to be in my movie.”
In another story, Bayray Nwizu reveals why women should ‘toast’ the man they like.
Speaking with Saturday Beats, Bayray McNwizu said although there’s nothing wrong with ‘shooting their shots’, they shouldn’t act desperate.
The Tiwa’s Baggage movie star further explained that when men find it difficult to read positive signs a lady is showing, such woman should become vocal about their intentions. Bayray McNwizu said:
“There are pros and cons when it comes to women ‘shooting their shots.’ If one does not want to waste one’s time, just find out what is working. It is always about knowing where to apply the gauge, knowing when to proceed, how fast to move and when to stop. These things are so important. If one likes somebody as a woman, know how to proceed and know how fast one can take action.
“Also, know when to stop because one cannot afford to look desperate. A woman needs to have a healthy self-concept about herself and know that she is a queen. If a woman wants to be in a man’s life, that woman has to bring a lot of value to the table. If the man cannot see that, then the woman should help him. If the man is interested, he will chase the woman. If he is not, then the both the man and the woman can settle for friendship. It’s even more valuable to have friendships that can blossom into other things as opposed to immediate romantic relationships.”
Governor Umo Eno has said that some people in the state are funding criminals to cause havoc and disturb the current peace in Akwa Ibom State.
Making this comment in response to incidences of security violations in the state, the governor disclosed that his government said will come up with a new security architecture in the state.
Naija News reports that he also pledged that his administration was determined to ensure the safety of the people living in the state.
Without disclosing the identities of the purported sponsors, Eno in a statement released on Thursday by his spokesperson Ekerete Udoh, said the allegation is in the wake of reliable intelligence at the disposal of his government.
The statement detailed that Eno made this comment at a ceremony held to honour Akwa Ibom indigenes who were promoted to higher positions in the Nigerian Armed Forces.
The governor assured that his administration“will stop at nothing to ensure the safety of our people. We are drawing up a new security architecture for the state and in the next few months, you will see the results and how serious we are.
“ So if criminals believe that Akwa Ibom State is a place for them to hibernate, I am warning them now that they will find this state too hot for them to stay. We have credible intelligence that some in our society, those living among us, are giving support, aid and comfort to these criminal elements just to upturn the peace in our state and use it as a narrative.
“Let me say this emphatically and to assure our people that no matter how highly placed such an individual may be, such an individual will not be spared. We will mention your name and call you out. We will come after you. We will use every layer of intelligence available to track you, we are on top of this game, so be warned.”
[NaijaNews]
The Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, has said that about 81% of Nigerians in the employment pool are not in any productive sector of the economy.
Oyedele, who was speaking on Thursday at an Africa Trade and Investment Summit, said that while the unemployment rate in Nigeria is relatively low at 4.2%, most employed Nigerians do not add any meaningful value to the economy.
According to him, Nigeria has the same unemployment rate with the United Kingdom. Meanwhile, Nigeria still has over 113 million people living in multidimensional poverty.
He said,
- “About 81% of people in employment in Nigeria are engaged in a non-productive sector of the economy. They are doing things that do not add value in the real sense of the world.
- “That is the reason why our unemployment rate even though is just 4.2%, similar to that of UK, our poverty rate is still one of the highest in the world. We have over 113 million people living in poverty as of 2022 and it is most likely to have increased because that was before subsidy removal and naira floatation.
- “So how is it that you have high employment rate and you also have one of the highest poverty rate? That is the only explanation. We have working poor. We need to create decent jobs. Our job is just beginning.”
Speaking on the economic challenges of the country, Oyedele emphasized that the government is confronted with macroeconomic issues that are triggered, in part, by politics as well as the policy environment of the country.
He added that while Nigeria cannot control the global economic climate, a change in policy direction can help manage the economic situation of the country.
- “While we cannot control what Russia and Ukraine is doing. We cannot control what happens in the Gaza. Just making it easy for small businesses to earn a meaningful living, it is easier for manufacturers to produce.
- We make it easy for international investors to find Nigeria attractive enough such that the risk adjusted returns is competitive. That is where the presidential fiscal policy committee comes in to play a major role in this whole picture of policy environment,” he added.
According to Oyedele, the presidential committee has three major mandates which are organization and coordination of monetary, fiscal and trade policies.
What you should know
- According to the National Bureau of Statistics, Nigeria unemployment rate stands at 4.2% nationwide.
- This is according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) Labour Force report for the Q2, 2023.
- The report, however, noted that 88% of employed Nigerians are self-employed while the other 12.0% are employees in Q2, making Nigeria one of the countries with the highest self-employed professionals in the world.
- Meanwhile, there have been backlash on the methodology used in calculating the unemployment rate in the country, as many believed that that figure does not represent the economic reality in the country.
- According to NBS, workers who work for only few hours and in low-productive jobs are still regarded as part of the employment pool in the country.
- Reacting to criticism of the methodology, employed individuals are those who have worked for pay or profit for at least one hour in the last seven days, as opposed to the previous criteria of 40 hours.
[Nairametrics]
The high rate of insecurity in Abuja has continued, the latest being the attack on a house situated 200 metres close to a military base in Pambara, Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
During the attack, one Aondo Ver, said to be a director in the Federal Housing Authority, was abducted.
The bandits stormed the house around 12:30am on Thursday.
The kidnappers reportedly gained access through the fence.
As of the time of filing this report, the Army had yet to comment on the incident.
This is coming days after gunmen broke into a home at Guita community, Chikakore, Kubwa, Bwari Area Council of the FCT and kidnapped two sisters.
The evil doers target children, youths and families, causing panic and pain among residents
They appear well-coordinated, operating in broad daylight, often at busy intersections or near public places such as markets and schools.
They also carry out their operations at night.
Weeks ago, kidnappers dumped the remains of four victims they executed around a former military checkpoint behind Idah Junction on the Bwari-Jere SCC Road in Kagarko LGA of Kaduna State.
Among the corpses so far identified include a secondary school student identified as the daughter of the Ekiti state-born chief legal officer of the National University Commission (NUC), Folorunsho Ariyo, and a 500-level student of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, Nabeeha Al-Kadriyar.
While Ariyo was abducted along with her mother and three siblings two Sundays ago, Nabeeha was seized with her father and five of her female siblings on January 9.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Police Force has made a significant breakthrough in the case of the abduction and murder of Nabeeha, the daughter of a Bwari-based lawyer, with the arrest of a suspected kidnapper.
In a statement on Sunday, the police announced the arrest of 28-year-old Bello Mohammed during a hotel raid in Kaduna on January 20th.
Mohammed was found with N2.25 million in cash, suspected to be part of the ransom money.
[Dailytrust]
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Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, has approved N30.9 billion for rehabilitating 40 schools in the Nation’s capital, Abuja.
Mandate Secretary, Education Secretariat, FCT Administration, Danlami Hayyo, disclosed this in Abuja.
Hayyo, giving a breakdown of the fund, said N13.3 billion has been approved for the renovation and rehabilitation of 40 schools, which would be completed in 100 days.
He added that N13.1 billion was also provided for an accelerated whole-school rehabilitation approach, beginning with 18 schools.
He said four schools would also be renovated in the second batch of the whole-school rehabilitation approach at N4.5 billion.
He listed the schools as Government Science Technical College, Kwali; Government Science Technical College, Maitama; Government Secondary School, Kuje; and Government Secondary School, Wuse II.
He said the projects are expected to be completed before May 2024.
[DailyPost]
PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba said this in a statement in Abuja on Thursday.
Ologunagba said that Arong, who hailed from Cross River, was a prominent women mobiliser.
He expressed confidence that she would bring on board her intellectual capacity as well as experience as the women leader.
Ologungba said that Arong, a holder of a Diploma in Banking and Finance and B.Sc. in Accounting, would serve out the term of the late National Women Leader, Prof. Stella Effah-Attoe, who died on Oct. 29.
“The PDP congratulates and tasks the new national women leader to deploy her capacity and experience in working with other members of the National Working Committee for the continuing stability, growth and success of our great Party,” he said.
(NAN)
Bureau De Change operators have announced shut down of operations in Abuja as a result of unavailability of dollars, reports the Daily Trust
This was announced by the association’s Chairman, Abdulahi Dauran, on Wednesday.
The naira closed at an all-time low of N1,482 against the United States dollar on the official window on Tuesday while on the parallel market, it remained stable at N1,450/$.
Dauran attributed the closure to online business transactions and cryptocurrency.
He said the closure of business would take effect from Thursday, February 1, 2024.
The development is coming amid fresh moves by the Central Bank of Nigeria to stabilise the nation’s volatile exchange rate.
The apex bank on Wednesday ordered Deposit Money Banks to sell their excess dollar stock by February 1, 2024.
The CBN also warned lenders against hoarding excess foreign currencies for profit.
According to officials, the bank believes some commercial banks hold long-term foreign exchange positions to enable them to profit from the volatile movements of exchange rates.
The new directive also introduced a set of guidelines aimed at reducing the risks associated with these practices.
[Punch]
Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has proposed that President Bola Tinubu’s administration ensure removal of electricity subsidy for effective utilisations of energy in the country.
Adelabu said this while expressing concerns over the poor electricity supply situation in the country caused by numerous issues including outstanding subsidy debts.
He advocated that Nigeria should migrate to a full cost-reflective tariff regime if the federal government cannot pay for subsidies owed to the market.
The minister disclosed these on Wednesday when he visited the 750 megawatts (mw) Olorunsogo Power Generating Plant in Ogun State and the 500mw Omotosho Generating Plant in Ondo State as part of his nationwide inspection visit to power installations of the federal government.
Adelabu also stated that the National Independent Power Plants (NIPPs) being operated and managed by the Niger Delta Power Holding Company Plc (NDPHC) were currently suffering under-capacity utilisation of below 25 per cent due to gas supply constants.
“We have been to Olorunsogo and we are now in the Omotosho Power Plant. These are big power plants. I am impressed with the size and the technology of the power plants here. Their operational history is also impressive,” he said.
“And I am amazed at the level of underutilisation of these power installations. Each of them operates below 25 per cent capacity, when we are still complaining that power generation is low in this country. The under-capacity utilisation is due to a variety of reasons.
“The major part of it is the shortage in gas supply to these installations, which is why I needed to see these plants myself, to look at what can we do to improve the operational capacity of these plants.
Turbines
Speaking about turbines to generate more power for the country, he said, “What can we do to support these power plants to operate at impressive capacity, so that power supply will improve nationwide?”
He said he would later engage with the management of the power companies to effective means of partnership and cooperation such that the federal government could support them to improve their operational capacity, and consequently improve the level of power supply to the distribution companies.
He also observed that the government-owned generating companies were currently undervalued, arguing that a number of works needed to be done on them by the government to bring them back to higher capacity and improved valuation before they could be sold.
Adelabu said if the plants were sold in their current state, the country would be losing, maintaining that Nigeria had invested so much in those power installations that have only existed for 12 years.
In dealing with the gas supply challenge, the minister said there was a need for a roundtable meeting and collaboration with the Minister of State for Petroleum (Gas) in order to ensure that gas supply to the Gencos was regular, and ultimately solve the issue of under capacity utilisation of the plants.
Removing electricity subsidy
Having said this, Adelabu said Nigeria should migrate to a full cost-reflective tariff regime if the federal government cannot pay for subsidies owed the market.
He said, “And we also want to appeal to the federal government that once there is a subsidy promise, it has to be fully funded. If our government is not ready to fund electricity subsidy, it is actually better for us to migrate to a fully-cost-reflective tariff, because liquidity is a major issue in the sector, which has led to a huge debt being owed power generating companies.
“And once they are owed, they are also unable to pay the gas suppliers. When the gas suppliers are not paid, they will be unwilling to supply regular gas to them.
“So where are these debts piling up? Where are they coming from? Part of it are the Discos are owing some portion of these debts while the federal government is also owing a huge portion of these debts, which relate to the unfunded portion of the subsidy that they pledge.
“So, I will do everything within my capacity. I have already had a meeting with the Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy as well as the honourable Minister of Budget and National Planning, and the Special Adviser to the President on Energy, on how we can fund the outstanding electricity subsidy unpaid by federal government.”
Meeting with co-ministers
He said the meeting with the relevant ministers would continue on Thursday, noting that they were to discuss ways to help the power sector through injection of the required liquidity and payment of parts of the outstanding debts owed the generating companies.
Going forward, the power minister said Nigeria needed to have a conversation on whether to pay for the real price of power, which he said was no longer cheap.
According to him, throughout West Africa, Nigeria still pays the lowest tariff for power supply, arguing that Ghana, Ivory Coast, Niger and the likes pay almost more than double of Nigeria’s electricity tariff.
“So, if the government is insisting on continuing with the subsidy, then it has to be funded, so that there’s no debt piling up for the generating companies. That’s the only way out of the current power situation,” he maintained.
However, Adelabu assured Nigerians of an improvement in nationwide power supply in the coming weeks, saying the drop in supply experienced in the past three weeks was a temporary situation and resulted from shortages in gas supply to the power Gencos.
He also promised that the government would pay down a major part of the debts owed the Gencos in the next couple of days, adding, “And I believe that gas supply will improve to the power generating companies and power supply to the entire nation will also improve.”