House to Probe BPE over Privatisation, Commercialisation of Public Enterprises

•Investigates N1.1tn conditional cash transfer to 15 million households, summons minister

•Probes murder of youth corp member, tasks IG on speedy delivery of justice

Adedayo Akinwale and Juliet Akoje in Abuja

The House of Representatives has mandated its Committee on Privatisation and Commercialisation to investigate activities of the Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE) from 2019 to May 2023, and report back for further legislative action.

The resolution followed the adoption of a motion on the ‘Need to Investigate Activities of the BPE in the Privatisation and Commercialisation of Public Enterprises from 2019-2023,’ moved by Hon. Hassan Shehu Hussain at yesterday’s plenary.

Hussain, noted that the federal government of Nigeria commenced the privatisation and commercialisation of public enterprises in 2000, adding that during the period under review, about 80 public enterprises were privatised through various modes of privatisation including core investors, concessions, assets sales, initial public offerings (IPO).

The lawmaker recalled that the BPE privatised in 2019, 29 per cent of residues of the federal government’s shares in Geregu Power Plant to the core investors to upgrade it to a combined cycle for a total sum of N13,134,375.000.

“BPE without the investors fulfilling their obligations to upgrade the plant to a combined cycle sold an additional 20 per cent of the balance of shares meant for IPO to the Nigerian public on the Nigerian Stock Exchange to the same investor in 2021.

“The Geregu Power Plant may never be upgraded to a combined cycle by the investors since BPE has removed the public enterprises from post- privatisation monitoring,” he added.

Hussain, further expressed worry that the balance of $78 billion between Afam Power and Afam Three Fast Power remained outstanding though, the parties signed the Share Sale Purchase Agreement in 2020 and only 25 per cent of the purchase consideration was paid and a 100 per cent handover to investors on the condition that the balance would be paid upon commissioning of the Afam Three Fast Power which was equally done by former Vice President, Professor Yomi Osinbanjo before leaving office.

“The Federal Ministry of Justice recently blocked the signing of the Zungeru Power Plant Concession Agreement, which would have generated $350million US Dollars in concession fees on the ground that there was no express approval by the Federal Executive Council (FEC),” he added.

In a related development, the House of Representatives has summoned the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviate, Betta Edu, to give detailed policy documents adopted in allocation and distribution of N1.1 trillion for the conditional cash transfer (CCT) to 15 million households in order to ensure transparency and accountability.

The resolution of the House followed the adoption of a motion moved at the plenary yesterday, by Hon. Abdulmaruf Adebayo.

The lawmaker, while moving the motion said the conditional cash transfer programme was an immediate intervention by the federal government to cushion the effect of the removal of petrol subsidy and other economic shocks for vulnerable groups in Nigeria.

Adebayo, added that the conditional cash transfer was one of the 15 items in the memorandum of understanding between the federal government and organised labour on October 2nd 2023.

Adebayo, noted that there had been a lot of unsatisfactory feedback from the ways and manners palliative to vulnerable Nigerians have been handled by some Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) which has not in any way reduce hardship in the land.

He said it was pertinent to remind the parliament about the ugly scenario witnessed during the Covid-19 palliative distribution few years ago, where items from international donors meant to cushion the effect of the pandemic were mismanaged.

The House, therefore, mandated, “the committee on constituency outreach and committee on poverty Alleviation to invite the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation to give detailed policy documents adopted in Allocation and distribution of funds for the conditional cash transfer in order to ensure transparency and accountability which are fundamental principles of good governance.”

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has launched a probe into the murder of a National Youth Service Corps member deployed to Kaduna State, Miss Chalya Grace Silas.

It also called on the Inspector General of Police and Kaduna state Commissioner of Police to speedily identify and bring the assailants to book.

The resolution of the House was sequel to the adoption of a motion moved at plenary yesterday, by Hon. Beni Lar.

 Moving the motion, Lar, recalled that on October 18, 2023, Silas, a youth corp member deployed to Kaduna State, was brutally murdered while jogging in Barnawa, Kaduna South Local Government Area.

The lawmaker noted that Silas hailed from Tabat, in Langtang North Federal constituency, Plateau State and a Rehabilitation Sciences graduate from the University of Jos, who tragically died at the hands of her assailants while undertaking the mandatory one-year, NYSC in Kaduna State.

Lar, stressed that the tragic incident was one of numerous murders of innocent girls and women nationwide, with perpetrators often unaccounted for or not brought to justice.

 She expressed worry that the safety and security of the girl child was no longer guaranteed, given the continued liberty and freedom enjoyed by the heinous assailants, who still roam the streets preying on their next victim.

The lawmaker acknowledged that prompt justice in the case would deter potential perpetrators, thereby ensuring a safer environment for Nigerian children and residents.

Lar, said delaying justice in this case would be equivalent to denying justice to the victims’ families and loved ones, as well as the entire nation;

She warned that if nothing was done to stop the continuous attacks, rape, and murder of young girls and women, it would render the country unsafe to live.

The House resolved to, “urge the Kaduna State Commissioner of Police to speedily identify and bring the assailants to book; the Inspector General of Police to ensure the speedy delivery of Justice in this case and mandate the Committee on Police to investigate the murderer of Miss Chalya Grace Silas.”

The House also mandated the Committee on Youth Development to review the safety of Corps members as they fulfill their one-year compulsory NYSC assignments, reach out to the family and collaborate with the police as they investigate the killers of the Corps member.”