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Privatization Of Power Sector, A Failure – Gbajabiamila
…As Reps Probe High Cost of Oil Production, Distribution of Palliatives.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt.Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila has described the privatization of the power sector in Nigeria as a failure.
The number one man of the Green Chamber described power generating and distribution companies as grossly lacking in the capacity to provide sustainable electricity to Nigerians.
Speaker Gbajabiamila stated this in Abuja last Wednesday at an interactive session with the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Comrade Ayuba Wabba.
The Speaker responded to the NLC leader’s posers on the power sector.
In his words: “On the issue of power, I think, we perhaps privatized to the wrong people who don’t have the capacity. Perhaps we privatized our power sector, to brief-case businessmen and all of that, and that’s why we are here. But we must pursue the solution to this mess in the power sector to its logical conclusion.
“For example, the issue of estimated billing as far as I’m concerned is an anomaly. it’s only in Nigeria that you have that.
“We have actually passed a Bill for a law, to review the issue of estimated billing, but unfortunately, the Bill still sits in the Senate. But we hope, there will be concurrence “.
The Speaker assured that the House would ensure that the regime of estimated billing is abolished in the power sector.
Besides, he promised that the House would look into the high cost of production of Petroleum products in the oil sector of the country.
He lamented that Nigeria’s production of a liter of oil at $31 per barrel, remained the highest in the world, a situation he described, as unacceptable.
“Like everything Nigerian, our production of a liter of oil is as high as $31 per barrel, when other countries are producing at between $10 to $12 dollars, per barrel; that is not acceptable. It doesn’t make sense”, he said.
He however added that ” Well, if you ask them (oil sector players), they will tell you that part of that is for security; the security of pipelines and all of that. But we will look into the issue of refineries”.
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On the issue of palliatives for Nigerians who are suffering, as a result of the Corona Virus(COVID-19) pandemic, he assured that “there is a competent Committee on the COVID-19, that will follow up on the money meant for Nigerians in this difficult time”.
Earlier, the Mr. Wabba who spoke extensively on the Power Sector and welfare of Nigerian workers also urged the House, which he described as the “final bus stop of the people”, to expedite action on the review of labor laws, to secure better working conditions for the country’s workers and follow up on the fair distribution of palliatives to the poor to cushion the agonizing effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on them.
He also decried the high cost of production in the oil sector, and pleaded with the House, to ensure the refineries are put to maximum use, and the high cost of production of petroleum products is reduced and used to better the lives of oil and gas workers.
“How can we produce oil here, then take it outside this country, refine it and bring it back at a very high cost to our economy and people, when we have refineries here. It doesn’t add up”, he said.
He also urged the Speaker, to push for the upgrade of the refineries and press for the refining of all oil products in the country.
In addition, the leader of Nigerian workers, also called for a fair and just distribution of the palliatives, for the poor in the country, whose plight, has been worsened by COVID-19.
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