The House of Representatives Committee on Renewable Energy, chaired by Afam Ogene of Ogbaru Federal Constituency, Anambra State, has summoned key ministers to address the alleged misuse of over $2 billion in investments and grants designated for renewable energy development in Nigeria since 2015.
Set for November 5 and 6, 2024, this investigation was launched in response to the Committee’s mandate from June 6, 2024, to probe government involvement in the renewable energy sector, scrutinizing funding allocation, procurement, and grant management among Ministries, Departments, and Agencies.
Several high-ranking officials were called upon to account for the sector’s poor performance, including the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari; Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Uche Nnaji; and Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu.
However, none attended the initial session on Tuesday, opting instead to send representatives, most of whom were asked to leave.
Ogene, expressing strong disappointment with the ministers’ absence, emphasized the importance of their in-person testimonies, reminding them of the Committee’s authority.
“Let me state this again,” he said, referring to Section 81 (1) of Nigeria’s amended Constitution, which grants both chambers of the National Assembly the power to conduct investigations related to legislative authority. “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.”
This, he added, extends to “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 Tuesday’s session, a director from the Budget and Economic Planning Ministry, Felix Okonkwo, appeared in Bagudu’s stead.
When Ogene inquired whether Okonkwo had authorization to represent the minister, Okonkwo responded, “I can take some responsibilities but not all.” Dissatisfied with the response, Ogene directed Okonkwo to notify his principal to appear in person on Wednesday. He added, “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.”
The Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation was represented by Deputy Director Suleiman Abubakar, who explained that his directorate had mandated him to attend.
However, Ogene dismissed Abubakar’s authority to speak for Minister Nnaji, saying, “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.”
In addition to these officials, others summoned to appear on Wednesday include the Minister of Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, as well as representatives from the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, Union Bank of Nigeria, and the Niger Delta Power Holding Company.
The Committee’s goal is to understand why, despite significant funding, Nigeria’s renewable energy sector has failed to make a substantial impact on the country’s power supply.
