Reps grill NERC Chairman, Commissioner over non-remittance of surplus

By Christiana Ekpa

The House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts, Wednesday grilled the Chairman Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission NERC Engr Sanusi Garba and the Executive Commissioner in charge of Finance, Nathan Shatti over the non-remittance of operating surplus of the agency to the Rural Electrification Agency REA.

Chairman of the House Committee Hon.Oluwole Oke who grilled the NERC Chief Executive and other officials had demanded that the provision of the law on the payment of operating surplus by Ministries, Departments and agencies MDAs of government be complied with by these organisations forthwith.

He noted that the  Rural Electrification Agency REA is one of the key government agencies established by government under the Electricity Reform Act passed by the National Assembly and enjoined the agency to maximise it’s potentials for national development in power sector.

He further stated that the provision of the law is clear that the agency as a regulator of the government agencies and power distribution companies should pay its operating surplus to the government agency in charge of power at the rural areas.

Responding to the queries raised by the representative of the Auditor- General of the Federation AuGF Mr Godfrey Nwankwo  the on the report of the AuGF to the committee, the NERC Chief Executive said that the agency has paid up all its outstanding operating surplus to the Rural Electrification Agency REA.

He further told the committee that the idea of payment of operating surplus to the government is to improve access to electricity in the rural areas by agencies of government.

He added that the regulator of the electricity industry in Nigeria has paid N1.340 million naira as operating surplus to the coffers of the REA adding that in 2012 a whopping N4billion was paid to the coffers of government.

But the House Committee Chairman Hon Oke not satisfied with the explanation from the NERC chief executive and other officials demanded that the Rural Electrification Agency provide the Committee with details of payment of operating surplus by NERC from 2015-till date.

While ruling on the matter, he said that the Clerk of the Committee should write to the agency demanding details of the payment of operating surplus by the NERC from 2015 till date.