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FG sets aside N16b for rural electrification, swears in board

By on September 5, 2013

Federal Government on Tuesday said about N16 billion has being set aside to enable the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) execute power projects in communities across the country.

Minister of State for Power, Zainab Kuchi who made the disclosure in Abuja shortly after inaugurating the REA supervisory board headed by former deputy senate leader, Senator Jonathan Zwingina, warned the board against undue interference with the agency’s operations.

REA was initially scrapped in 2009 following an alleged N5.2 billion financial scam during the administration of Olusegun Obasanjo.

Kuchi said government has a target to achieve about 75 per cent rural electrification access by 2020 and as such would not condone undue meddlesomeness of the new board in the affairs of REA.

According to her, it is the responsibility of the management of the REA to transparently handle all its procurement processes without undue interference from the board in line with extant laws guiding its operations, stressing that the rural economy of Nigeria remains important and in dire need of electrification.

“There were backlogs of payments that needed to be addressed, even though we are still battling with some of these payments, the government has budgeted N16 billion this year as funding for the REA. There is also a strategy plan for REA that is still awaiting the president’s approval.

“As you take on your office today as members of the board, let me make it clear that the board should realise that its function is advisory and that of monitoring and evaluation of projects in the various catchment areas to which you will be assigned.

“The management of the REA under the managing director must be allowed to perform their day to day duties unencumbered by the board, however, members of the board must meet quarterly to review its state of implementation of projects by both the federal, state and other actors and bring up advise for the attention of the government through the ministry.

 

 

[Daily Independent]