Power Ministry Wants NERC to Admit New Discos, Gencos
Chineme Okafor
The Ministry of Power, Works and Housing has asked the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to admit new operators into the distribution and generation sectors of Nigeria’s electricity industry, to primarily stimulate competition in the two segments.
According to a communique at the end of a retreat, which was organised for its staff last week in Owerri, Imo State, the ministry stated that it wanted NERC to amend its licensing procedures to allow new operators come into the two segments and engender efficiency.
The communique said participants, “advocated the review of Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission’s (NERC) extant licences and regulations governing the operations of Generating Companies (Gencos) and Distribution Companies (Discos) so as to accommodate new entrants to increase competiveness and performance in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).”
It equally explained that participants at the retreat supported the merger of government’s agencies and parastatals whose functions are duplicated for greater efficiency and productivity.
It also noted the need to restore geo-political slots in appointing Permanent Secretaries in the federal public service in addition to the existing states’ representation as a means of reducing stagnation in the service.
Noting how official corruption has affected the business of governance in the country, the civil servants stated that it was a hydra-headed monster and a major obstacle to actualising good governance, adding that it requires their collective efforts to eliminate it in the interest of Nigeria.
They appreciated the role of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) in curbing corruption and ensuring good governance.
They also resolved to strengthen the systems, processes and structures within the ministry to fight corruption.
The communique said the workers “resolved to continue to liaise with ICPC to conduct corruption risk assessment with the aim of identifying corruption vulnerabilities and mitigating same through integrity planning.”
It urged the ICPC to always furnish the MDAs with names of erring officers found complicit in corrupt acts for disciplinary action, even as it advocated for reform initiatives that will enable civil servants own and take responsibility for policies, programmes and activities in driving effective governance as it relates to productivity and target setting in respect of salary review, promotion, union matters, adherence to the principle of federal character.
Acccording to the the communique, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, in his keynote address, urged participants to draw inspiration from the short but impactful life of late Nigerian academician, Prof. Pius Adesanmi, who died recently in an Ethiopian Airlines crash, to improve their services to the public.