The House of Representatives has declared a decisive move to investigate all government investments in Nigeria's electricity sector over the past 17 years, aiming to correct what it describes as persistent failures.
Constitutional Mandate to Correct Power Failures
Speaker of the House, Abbas Tajudeen, announced that parliament is determined to address 17 years of shortcomings in Nigeria's electricity sector. Represented by the Chairman of the House Committee on Environment, Hon. Mike Etaba, at the formal commencement of the investigative hearing, the Speaker lamented the sector's "persistent challenges that have hindered growth, efficiency, and national development."
Tajudeen emphasized that the House owes Nigerians a constitutional duty to ensure that every power reform meant to improve supply, strengthen infrastructure, and expand capacity delivers tangible results rather than remaining merely written policy.
"Electricity, as we all know, is the lifeblood of modern civilisation. No nation attains sustainable progress without reliable power supply," he stated. "From our factories to our schools, hospitals to our homes, electricity determines productivity, quality of life and the strength of our economy."
Comprehensive Audit of 2007-2024 Expenditure
The Speaker noted that despite repeated efforts over the last 17 years, the sector has failed to deliver stable power, making the legislature's holistic review of reforms, investments, and policy implementation necessary.
The investigation is being conducted by an Ad-Hoc Committee constituted pursuant to Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Order 20 Rule 7 of the House Standing Orders, which empower the National Assembly to probe government ministries, departments, and agencies.
"Have these reforms fulfilled their promises? Have they improved service delivery? Most importantly, were they executed with integrity and in the best interest of Nigerians?" the Speaker posed these critical questions during the hearing.
Transparent Investigation with Clear Objectives
In his remarks, Chairman of the Ad-Hoc Committee, Arch. Ibrahim Almustapha Aliyu, clarified the panel's mandate to audit and investigate all power sector reforms and expenditure from 2007 to 2024.
"Our mandate is clear: to conduct a comprehensive audit of the reforms and expenditures in the sector from 2007 to 2024," Aliyu stated. "We will trace the flow of funds, assess policy implementation and evaluate the effectiveness of projects and initiatives carried out during this period."
According to him, Nigeria's power sector journey has been characterized by:
- Ambitious reforms
- Substantial investments
- Persistent inefficiencies
He assured that the investigation would expose both successes and systemic failures while proposing actionable solutions to ensure transparency, accountability, and significant improvement in power delivery.
The committee chairman emphasized that transparency and objectivity would guide every stage of their work, with engagement planned across government agencies, private sector players, civil society, and the Nigerian public.
"It is essential that we build a robust framework that safeguards public resources and delivers on the promise of improved power supply for every Nigerian," Aliyu concluded.
The Speaker urged committee members to carry out their assignment with diligence, transparency, and courage, stressing that the outcome should align with global sustainable energy goals, particularly Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7, which focuses on access to affordable, reliable, and modern energy.
