- Babatunde Fashola, the minister of works, housing and power, tells the chairman of the house committee on power that there was no N42 billion awarded for contract for rural electrification
- Fashola maintains that the electrification of projects followed due processes
- He says the projects was an investment backed by authorisation from the appropriate body
Babatunde Fashola, the minister of works, housing and power, has dismissed claims that the power ministry fraudulently awarded an N42billion contract.
The minister made this gave his defence on Thursday, January 25, when he was summoned by the joint committee to clarification on the part his ministry played in the N42 billion rural electrification projects allegedly awarded in contradiction of due process.
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Fashola had a faceoff with the lawmakers during the proceeding as he maintained that the project followed due process.
According to Channel Television's report, Fashola had a faceoff with the lawmakers at the proceeding as he maintained that the project followed due process.
He said: “There is no contract award for N42 billion. There is no such award. So, it is really a matter of whether you want us to continue. But let me say emphatically and clearly, there is no fraud here.”
The committee inquired if the project has been suspended in compliance with with the house resolution. Dan Asuquo, chairman of the committee, asked the minister if he obeyed the resolution of the house.
Asuquo said: “If you have not obeyed the resolutions of the House, then we don’t even have any need of your appearance, it means you don’t have regards for the institution of the National Assembly.”
Fashola responded: “Mr Chairman, as I said, I didn’t see the document you referred to, so to ask me to answer whether I have obeyed what I did not see, really I don’t know what you expect me to say.”
The minister at the one-day investigative hearing appeared with the managing director of the rural electrification agency, some heads of federal universities and officials of non-governmental agencies.
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The committee also investigated the fast power programme for power generation. Fshola responded that the programme was an investment and that authorization was sought and given for it.
Fashola said: “It was an investment, we sought authorization, we got authorization. The side that needed budget was the switchyard to evacuate the power, we got the appropriation from you, we implemented it in accordance with the BPP procurement. And all the documents that showed the certificate of no objection are in the report that is filed before you.”
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The lawmakers, therefore, insist that they are interested in ensuring that the projects are carried out in line with relevant laws. They are expected to submit their reports on the projects to the house for consideration.
NAIJ.com reported that respite had come to the people of Omotosho in Ondo as their long stay in darkness had finally come to an end after the intervention of Babatunde Raji Fashola, minister of power, work and housing.
The community, despite being host to phase I and face II of Omotosho power stations has been in total darkness for 15 years.
Nigerian electricity crisis explained on NAIJ.com TV
Source: Naija.ng