Saraki Moves to Light Up Kwara

It is not an over statement to say that the present administration in Kwara State under Governor Bukola Saraki has been working assiduously towards complementing the federal government efforts at enhancing the socio economic growth of the country.  Apart from collaborations in the area of roads , agriculture, among others, the present giant stride at supporting the federal government at addressing the issue of epileptic power supply in the country cannot be totally ignored as the power sector has remained a propel for the economic and industrial growth of any nation.  Prior to this gesture, the state government has taken over the Gannmo power project from the federal government following the inability of the federal government to complete the project.  The project, which has cost the state government over N265million, would assist the people of the state to have a stable power supply following the epileptic power situation being experienced due to over stretching of the power station in Osogbo, Osun state which also simultaneously serve the people of Kwara and Kogi states.  The new power project at Ganmo in Ifelodun local government area of the state would commence test transmission by the first week of October, this year This is expected to bring the benefit of power supply to the residents of the state in view of the influx of investors to the state to establish cottage industries. The state government, as part of efforts to ensure the distribution of power supply to the people when the Ganmo power project takes off, has procured transmitters that would be used to step down power supply to all the nooks and crannies of the State of Harmony , most especially to the 16 local government councils in the state.  However, the desire to ensure this collaboration in the resolution of power supply in the country was taken at a recent meeting of the Federal Economic Council where the 36 states governors and President Umaru Yar’Adua jointly agreed to bring new lease of life to the well meaning Nigerians in the area of power generation and distribution .  It would be noted that, the current power generation and distribution in the country is far below 3-4 megawatts which the stakeholders considered as unfair since the sector has become a major tool that would accelerate the socio economic growth of the nation.  It is based on this premise that the stakeholders took the decision at the council meeting for the states and even local government councils in the country to be part of the move to revive the power sector so as to move the economy of the country forward.  In the analysis, the total money required to revive the power sector on the issue of National Emergency Power Project Special Intervention Fund is $5.375 billion.  The Federal Government is expected to contribute $2.4 billion representing 45.83 per cent, 36 States would contribute over $1.9 billion or 36.25 per cent while all the 774 local government councils would contribute $963 million or 17.25 per cent.  Following this development,Kwara state governor, Dr. Bukola Saraki, after the meeting wrote a formal letter to the state house of assembly seeking approval for the use of the excess crude funds meant for the state and the 16 local government councils in the state .  The use of the funds, if approved by the lawmakers, would allow the state government to contribute the said money into the National Emergency Power Project Special Intervention Funds with a view to resolving the epileptic power supply in the polity.  In the letter,Saraki intimated the Assembly that over $50million of 0.94 per cent will be required with the state government contributing $30.7million while the 16 local government councils in the state would contribute $20.6 million to the fund.  Debating the letter on the floor of the Assembly, Hon. Balogun Fulani (Ilorin South constituency) noted that the way the excess crude funds were withdrawn in the past was faulty. He said with the governor seeking the approval of the house to appropriate the said money, needs to be commended as this would assist the nation to move forward.  Fulani who is also the Majority Leader of the Assembly however advised members of the house to approve the money so that the state government can contribute towards improving the power sector. Hon. Babatunde Muhammed (Omupo Constituency ), on his part, said the power project is one of the cardinal points of this present administration and should not be treated with levity.  The power project, he said ,would assist the nation to move forward and thereby accelerating the socio- economic growth of the country.  He added that power generation and distribution in the country have always been a problem and therefore called on the lawmakers to back the governor’s proposal.  Muhammed who cited section 7 of the 1999 constitution that empowers the Assembly to discuss and approve the initiative said that the development would assist the nation to attain its seven-point agenda . Hon. Abdulwahab Omotose ( Ilorin North and West) in his contribution, said the power project collaboration could not have come better than now in view of the suffering of Nigerians in the last few years.  Omotose said despite the three power projects that have been earmarked for the state , the distribution of power in the state was nothing to write home about. According to him, one of such power projects located at Ganmo was taken over by the state government and is nearing completion .  Omotose added that the current move by government to stabilize power sector was a good omen for the nation and called for the proper utilization of the funds that might have been raised in the course of this noble idea.  Also contributing,Hon. Kola Bukoye (Balogun/ Ojomu, Offa constituency) said the bringing of the approval of the said funds to the house was in line with the principle of rule of law as contained in the nation’s constitution. He said the development would go a long way to stabilize the nation’s power sector and thereby improving the nation’s economic growth . Hon. Usman Lawal ( Oke-Ero constituency), on his part, said the request of the state governor for the approval of the said funds for utilization of national power project intervention was in line with the constitutional provision . He however called on the Assembly members to give the request a positive response so as to bring new lease of life to the Nigerians.  After an exhaustive debate of the request of the governor, the Assembly unanimously approved the request. Speaking on the floor of the Assembly after the consent of the Assembly has been given, the Speaker Hon. Bio Isa Ibrahim said it was imperative to approve the request considering the desire for quality and steady power supply to Nigerians and its impact on the nation’s economy. He however said the house would continue to work with the executive in the desire to bring more meaningful socio- economic development to the state and to the nation in particular.   However, when the request of the governor was approved, Governor Saraki was on vacation abroad and immediately he resumed , the Assembly led by its Speaker, Hon. Ibrahim visited the governor in his office to acquaint him of the approval granted him on the utilization of the State and Local Government shares of the excess crude and savings account worth $50.7million towards the National Emergency Power Project Special intervention Fund utilize the excess crude funds for power project in the country.  Receiving the lawmakers in his office in Ilorin, Governor Saraki enjoined Nigerians to see the issue of the epileptic power supply as a national matter that should be jointly solved in order to accelerate the socio- economic and industrial growth of the nation. The governor described power as national project of our time in which all efforts must be concentrated to ensure that the country can raise a sustainable level of power generation and distribution required for her economic development. Saraki said this national project is probably one of the most important projects that everybody must be willing to support as this would go along way towards moving the nation’s industrial growth to greater heights.  According to him, “ It is the believe of many that, once we can address the issue of power , definitely seeing economic growth of over 10 years sustained period is achievable that would enable us fight poverty and create jobs for unemployed graduates”.  Saraki explained that, to facilitate this process, the 36 states governors of the federation and Mr. president at the Economic Council meeting in Abuja decided that before expenditure can be incurred, the states must get resolution from the 36 states houses of assembly for the proper utilization of the excess crude funds. While thanking the members of the state house of assembly for the accelerated hearing given to the request , Saraki called on other states houses of assembly in the country to emulate the good gesture in order to address the power problem facing the country.  He added that the approval of the assembly for the utilization of the excess crude funds would put an end to the mistakes of the past where money was being spent without right approval.  Earlier, the Speaker of the House, Hon. Ibrahim said the approval was given in line with section 120 subsection 4 of the 1999 constitution and the tenents of the principle of the rule of law. Ibrahim disclosed that a total sum of $5.38 billion was required for the entire intervention fund noting that Kwara State is having the least contribution of about $50million representing about 0.94 per cent . The Speaker declared that the power sector is one of the fundamental infrastructures required for the economy of the nation and wondered why Nigeria ’s generation and distribution stands about 3-4 megawatts which, according to him ,is far below what is required to propel her growth. He also commended President Yaradua for including the power sector in his seven-point agenda adding that now is really the time to urgently redress the problem of power sector in Nigeria .  Ibrahim stated that the power was so fundamental for the industrial and social economic growth of a nation.  He also congratulated the state governor for being able to convince his colleagues to join the President to fund the power sector wondering that Nigeria is still battling with the problem of power rationing when countries like South Africa ,Ghana and Russia have achieved stable power supply.  By and large, with this current development in Kwara State in the area of joint effort with the President in the tackling of power problem in the country, the desire of the present administration in the country to lay an everlasting socio economic and industrial growth for the people of the country and more importantly in the realization of seven point agenda would not be a mirage. The latest development would go a long way towards accelerating the socio well being of the populace , reducing poverty level rate , boosting employment opportunities and improving the Gross Domestic Product of the nation and thereby increasing the per capital income of the populace. It is also imperative for other states of the federation who were part of the meeting in Abuja to toe the Kwara State line by remitting their excess crude funds to the power project in order to address the matter once and for all. By Hammed Shittu, 09.14.2008

 

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