The National Economic Council (NEC) has appointed the Cross River State Governor Bassey Edet Otu, head of National Electrification committee to come up with strategies to end the collapse of the nation’s power grid.
The formation of the committee took place at the end of its 146th meeting where the Council constituted a committee on National Electrification to help address the challenges in the power sector on Thursday.
Comrade Nsa Gill, Chief press secretary to the Governor Otu, in a post on social media reported that the Vice President Kashim Shettima, chaired the meeting at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
As the Chairman of NEC, Shettima, reportedly said that “access to energy is a fundamental right and not a privilege” because electricity is the oxygen of economic growth.
Accordingly, the committee, headed by Cross River State Governor Bassey Edet Otu, is working towards deepening states’ engagements within the Electricity Reform Act 2023.
Thereby, puting to work the National Electrification Strategy and Implementation Plan as Information gathered by Truth Live News revealed the National Economic Council observations.
It said that Nigeria needs a reformed and diversified electricity system following the Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA)’s reports.
NEC said empowering States’ accessibility and affordability of electricity can be possible, by ensuring that all regions effectively meet their specific energy needs.
READ: Gov. Otu Of C’River Meets Federal REA Over Counterpart Funding Requirements
According to NEC, there are issues before the Council that require urgent attention.
They are but not limited to energy infrastructure, human capital development, creative industries, fiscal strategy, industrial innovation, and long-term development planning.
Meanwhile, Members of the committee include Katsina state Governors Dikko Radda, Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe, Ademola Adeleke of Osun, Hope Uzodimma of Imo, and Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau.
Others are the Ministers of Finance, Mr. Wale Edun; Budget and Economic Planning, Sen. Atiku Bagudu; Power, Mr. Adebayo Adelabu; Special Adviser to the President on NEC and Climate Change; Special Adviser to the President on Power; Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA); and Managing Director of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company.