Reps step down motion to sanction GenCos, NERC over power outage in North

The House of Representatives on Tuesday stepped down a motion calling on the Federal Government to sanction power Generation Companies (GenCos) and the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) over the recent blackout in some parts of the North.

The stepping down followed a debate on the motion of urgent national importance sponsored by Yusuf Umar Datti, the lawmaker representing Kura/Madobi/Garun Malam Federal Constituency in Kano State.

Widespread power failure engulfed 17 northern states in the past week, leaving millions without electricity as they struggled with a prolonged blackout.

Authorities attributed the outage to vandals who damaged the critical Shiroro-Kaduna transmission line, a major conduit supplying electricity to the North.

The President on Monday directed the Minister of Power and relevant agencies to expedite efforts to restore electricity to all affected states in the North.

While presenting the motion, Datti argued that the lack of electricity in many parts of the North resulted from the inability of power-generating companies and NERC to fulfil their responsibilities.

He noted that the week-long outage had disrupted businesses and threatened livelihoods in the region.

Datti attributed the blackout to a “show of gross inefficiency and incompetence” by the GenCos and NERC.

However, after Datti presented his motion, Rep. Mansur Manu Soro (Bauchi, APC) raised a point of order, stating that Datti’s motion was similar to one he had presented at the plenary last Wednesday.

Soro explained that following his motion, the House had mandated its Committee on Power to investigate the frequent national grid collapse and report back in three weeks.

Datti clarified that his motion differed by including two additional prayers, seeking sanctions against GenCos and NERC.

However, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, who presided over the plenary session, agreed that Datti’s motion was similar to the one presented last week.

Kalu also noted that the issues raised had already been addressed by President Bola Tinubu who directed relevant agencies to restore power to the affected states.

The deputy speaker, therefore, asked the lawmaker to step down the motion.