SERAP urges Fashola to disclose power sector’s funding since privatisation

• MRA accuses NPF pension of flouting FOI Act

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has implored the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, to disclose how much has been spent so far in privatising the power sector.

The group also asked him to declare if the funds were provided from the Federal Government’s budgetary allocations.According to its Executive Director, Adetokunbo Mumuni, the request was in line with the provisions of the Freedom of Information (FoI) Act.

The group is further seeking “information on the status of the implementation of a 25-year national energy development plan.“It also wants to know whether the code of ethics of the privatisation process, which barred staff of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) and members of the National Council on Privatization (NCP) from buying shares in companies being privatised were deliberately flouted.”

SERAP expressed concern that the Federal Government had since the privatisation continued to use public resources to subsidise the private entities.It said: “The Goodluck Jonathan government reportedly spent over N400 billion on the power sector, while the present government have spent over N500billion, despite the privatisation of the sector.

“It is unclear if this spending is drawn from budgetary allocations, or if they are loans to the Generation Companies (GENCOS), the Distribution Companies (DISCOS), as well as the Transmission Company of Nigeria.”

The group urged the power ministry to publish details of post-privatisation spending in the interest of the public.“If the requested information is not provided within 14 days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter, the registered trustees of SERAP shall take legal action to compel the minister to comply,” the statement said.Meanwhile, another group, Media Rights Agenda (MRA) yesterday accused the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) Pensions Limited of lacking accountability and transparency.

MRA alleged that the NPF Pension, an institution for the running of retired police officers and men’s pension has continued to undertake its activities and “operation in violation of the provisions of the FOI Act.”

It warned: “the institution’s practice of operating in secrecy was also contrary to its own core values, which include transparency and
accountability.”

In a statement by MRA’s Project Director, Mr. Segun Fatuase, he said: “Since the establishment of the NPF Pensions Limited,
following the passage of the FOI Act into Law in 2011, the institution has consistently undermined the objectives of the Act by conducting its business in secrecy.”