The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday had queried the allocation of N600m to Power Distribution Companies (Discos) on the 2020 budget by the Federal Ministry of Power.
The Senate said the allocation of such amount of money was unacceptable, as against the backdrop that the Discos have already been privatised.
Chairman Senate Committee on Power, Senator Gabriel Suswam, while speaking during the 2020 Budget defence of the Ministry of Power, expressed his dissatisfaction over the allocation of N600m to Power Distribution Companies saying that “the money you are spending to upgrade the Discos ought not to come from ministry because they have been privatized”.
Louis Edozien the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Power, while justifying the inclusion of N600m to the Discos, said the money was part of the agreement, the Ministry of Power had with them.
Saleh Mamman, the Minister of Power, while speaking earlier, said that special attention would be given to the Mambila Power Project by the ministry and ensure that all Power Projects across the country is sped up to make sure that all Nigerians enjoy quality Power Supply in the year 2020.
His words “The problem of Power supply to Nigerians is endemic and has continued to persist despite several measures especially by the present administration to mitigate the situation.
“It is a Nigerian problem. It affects all of us. There is no need for blame games. No need to look back. All Nigerians irrespective of their spheres of responsibility must contribute their quota in tackling all issues affecting the Sector”.
Mamman urged the Senate and distinguished members of the committee on Power to give the Ministry of Power the cooperation and support so as to address the knotty issues confronting the Power sector.
 on the 2020 budget by the Federal Ministry of Power){kind=link}