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From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
Governors of the 36 states of the Federation on the platform of Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) are set is to review the proposed privatisation of the 10 generating plants across the country under the National Integrated Power Projects (NIPPs), by the Federal Government.
The state governments have the highest equity share of 53 percent in the NIPPs while the remaining 47 percent belongs to the government at the center.
The governors who met via a teleconference on Wednesday, reached the decision after receiving a presentation from the Director General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises, Mr.
Alex A. Okoh on the proposed privatisation.
In a communiqué, signed by Chairman of the NGF and Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, and made available to newsmen Thursday, the governors, resolved to review and communicate their position through their representatives.
They also resolved to set up a committee to “scrutinise” the Electric Power Sector Reform (EPSRA) Bill 2021, which has passed its second reading at the Senate.
The decision to set up the committee, according to Fayemi, followed a presentation by the Chief Executive of New Hampshire Capital Limited, Mr. Odion Omonfoman, on the implications the new bill has for state governments.
The committee comprising the governors of Edo and Lagos States, will advice the state chief executives on a position that “will ensure that the bill, when signed, will be a tool to strengthen the course of policy direction, design and implementation of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI), and address critical issues in the country’s power sector.”
The NGF chairman disclosed that the governors have resolved to set up state polio transition committees to be headed by the Commissioners of Health, “to adapt and facilitate the implementation of the transition plan for their respective states.”
According to Fayemi, priority will be given to the control of Cholera, “through water and sanitation interventions; as well as the intensification of the vaccination exercise (including the administration of boosters) in addition to existing nonpharmaceutical measures to manage the spread of COVID
during the festive season”
The Governor added that the governors pledged to settle all outstanding pension obligations, through Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), which he said, would “be included as part of the social compact with citizens for the removal of fuel subsidies.”
He added that “state Commissioners of Finance will be mandated to ensure that states meet the guidelines for the implementation of Contributory Pension Schemes by state governments, including the enactment of a pension law, the establishment of a pension board and the adoption of a transition framework for each state.”
