Public office holders have been blamed for the Nigeria’s socio-economic misfortune in the power sector by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, describing them as unpatriotic ones.
Addressing audience at the commencement of the investigative hearing into the federal government’s abandoned power projects from 1999 to date; ably represented by Chief Whip Mohammed Monguro (APC – Borno), the speaker disclosed that the problems in the power sector remain unsolved because of the unpatriotic nature of public officers in discharging their duties to the nation.
“You will agree with me that from 1999 to date, the National Assembly has appropriated huge sums of monies in the power sector and there are lots and much to be desired from the sector.
“The problem is you and I; we are not patriotic enough in the discharge of our responsibilities to our nation.
“Again, I want to state that it is embarrassing that when you pick up newspaper, what you read is probe, probe, and probe; many heads to roll; EFCC to investigate.
“It is time in our nation building to rethink and press the reset button on what we do, how we do them with a view to ensuring that we get value for the monies appropriated for projects,” he said.
Gbajabiamila affirmed that it’s time to correct the ills affecting the country as Nigerians are leaving every day in search of stable electricity supply, good medical health facilities, quality education among others.
“The constitution of this Ad-hoc Committee is to enable the House in moving forward, take a critical evaluation of monies appropriated vis-a-vis their utilisations.
“However, in the course of carrying out this assignment, the committee is at liberty in line with Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to invite any organisation, agency, person, either still in active service or retired to make clarification where necessary,” he stressed.