NOSA EGHAGHA
The House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee, investigating overlapping functions of Government Agencies has revealed that the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) and National Electricity Management Agency (NEMSA), are not living up to their mandate of providing employment to teeming Nigerian youths, adding that some agencies are only sucking Nigerians.
The Committee also said that there is weak metering system by electricity distribution companies in the power sector, demanding a five year performance assessment report from the NDE for it to justify its existence in line with the mandate of the probe panel.
Chairman, Rep Victor Mela made this disclosure at an investigative hearing where NEMSA, NDE NELMC and NAPTI had session with the committee at the main bowl of the National Assembly, Thursday in Abuja.
He informed that the committee was inaugurated by the House Speaker, Rep Femi Gbajabiamila to investigate issue of overlapping mandate of some of these government agencies adding that there is need to merge some of the agencies.
Managing Director, NEMSA Engr Aliyu Tukur said the agency was established in 2015 by the Federal Government to ensure there is reliable electricity supply in the nation’s power industry.
He also said that the agency is mandated by law to ensure that materials used in the industry are of confirmed technical specifications adding that they in charge of quality metering.
However, some Committee members, Reps Adedeji Olajide and Zacharia Yanpan expressed displeasure over their overall performance in the electricity industry, arguing
that the agency has overlapping mandate with the Standard Organisation of Nigeria, (SON); lamenting that government is facing huge challenge in funding.
Rep Olajide said: “The Agency is sucking the blood of Nigerian citizens and should be merged with other agencies performing similar functions.”
Director-General, NDE Abubakar Nuhu implored that the agency is mandated by law to provide employment to Nigerians and vulnerable persons residing in the country.
“This is a government agency that has presence in all the states of the federation and local council areas and had been providing employment and skills for unemployed Nigerians in line with the mandate.”
But the Committee Chairman, Mela said there is massive unemployment and the agency had not really lived up to its responsibility.
However, Rep Karu moved a motion that the agency should provide a five years performance assessment report on employment generation or, be recommended for merger by the panel.
The lawmaker also threatens zero allocation to the National Power Training Institute in the 2023 Budget for its failure to address issues of power failure.
Mela and committee members adopted the motion and gave the NDE one week to submit the report for further scrutiny.
