President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the composition of a Power Sector Reform Coordination Working Group, under the leadership of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State, chairman of the committee set up by the National Economic Council (NEC) on Power sector reforms and Distribution Company ownership (DISCOs), on a statement, indicated that the new Working Group will incorporate the ongoing efforts of his committee and ensure all power sector initiatives are on the same page under the leadership of the Vice President Osinbajo.
‘’This new presidential working group will coordinate ad-hoc committee and other efforts on a national scale, and report progress fortnightly to Mr. President,’’ the Kaduna Governor explained.
The statement highlighted that, ‘’the presidential working group, which will meet weekly, commenced work at the Presidential Villa on Tuesday, at a meeting at which the Vice President presided.’’
The statement added that members of the group include, Governor Nasir El-Rufai, representing the Nigerian Governors’ Forum as well as the National Economic Council and the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, who leads the German Government/Siemens initiative to improve power supply.
Other members of the group include the Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed, the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emiefele, and Special Adviser to the President on Infrastructure, Ahmad Zakari, who is also the secretary of the Working Group.
The statement further emphasized: ‘’the key objective of the working group is to harmonise various efforts by the Federal Government and the 36 States, through the National Economic Council (NEC), on power sector reform and to oversee the design and implementation of a well-coordinated roadmap for the sector.
‘’The national working group will support critical financing initiatives with the World Bank Group, DFID, and other key development partners. The group will also ensure that ongoing Federal and State initiatives are in sync with the Presidential Power Initiative being implemented with the German government and Siemens, and infrastructure investments of the TCN and the Ministry of Power.’’
President Buhari will receive briefings twice a month on the progress of the National Working Group.
NEC constituted an ad-hoc Committee in November 2019 to determine the nature and extent of State Governments’ ownership of Distribution Companies (DISCOs) and provide feedback on the challenges afflicting the power sector reforms.