By Peter Adelowo
The House of Representatives has summoned the Managing Directors of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company and the Jos Electricity Distribution Company over their failure to appear before an ongoing investigative hearing into power sector reforms.
The Chairman of the House Ad-hoc Committee probing the sector, Honourable Al-Mustapha Ibrahim, expressed displeasure over the absence of the chief executive officers, describing it as a setback to the committee’s assignment.
Speaking in Abuja, Honourable Ibrahim said the committee was set up to investigate Nigeria’s persistent electricity challenges from 2007 to 2024, despite the privatisation of the power sector.
He stressed that the Managing Directors of the distribution companies must personally appear to explain their operations, investments, and how government intervention funds in the power sector have been utilised.
The committee noted that while issues relating to power generation and transmission have been examined, distribution companies remain key players whose performance directly affects electricity supply to consumers.
Members of the committee also questioned why Nigerians continue to experience poor power supply and are forced to provide infrastructure such as transformers, which they say should be the responsibility of the Discos.
Officials who appeared on behalf of the companies were rejected by the lawmakers for failing to provide satisfactory explanations or formal letters of delegation.
Consequently, the House resolved to adjourn the investigative hearing to the fifth of February and directed the Ibadan and Jos DISCOs to reappear with their Managing Directors.
The lawmakers also warned that failure to comply with the summons could lead to the invitation of the companies’ core investors and the application of appropriate legislative sanctions.
