Today, the senate addressed the country’s frequent grid collapses, electricity blackouts, and other issues centred around tax bills.
BLACKOUT: Senate slams GenCos, TCN, and DisCos over grid collapse
The Senate has strongly criticised power sector operators, including Generation Companies (GenCos), the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), and Distribution Companies (DisCos), for failing to deliver reliable electricity, asserting that they have added no significant value to the sector. The Senate described the privatization of the power sector as a “total failure” and warned that it might propose legislative measures to repeal the policy. Lawmakers claimed that the privatization, introduced in 2013, has plunged Nigeria deeper into darkness, leaving citizens without solutions.
This condemnation followed the presentation of a report by the Senate Committee on Power during Thursday’s plenary, which investigated frequent national grid collapses and related issues. Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe (APGA, Abia South), who presented the findings, attributed the persistent grid failures to factors such as aging infrastructure, abandoned projects worth trillions of naira, regulatory inefficiencies, security lapses, lack of modern monitoring systems like SCADA, and inadequate financial oversight.
Following a series of debates, the Senate stood down the consideration of the report and gave Abaribe’s committee additional six weeks to do a holistic investigation into the issues in the power sector and report back for further legislative actions.
‘Senate cannot be bullied, Tax bills are alive’ – Bamidele
The Senate has refuted media reports claiming it has suspended or withdrawn deliberations on the Tax Reform Bills, clarifying that it merely set up a committee to engage with the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi, to address contentious provisions in the bills.
This followed a point of order raised by the leader of the Senate, Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central) criticised the media, specifically referencing a report on Arise Television, describing it as an attempt to intimidate the legislature. He asserted that the senate remains steadfast in its legislative duties and would not succumb to external pressure or misrepresentation.
In his response, Senate President Godswill Akpabio reiterated the chamber’s commitment to a thorough and deliberate process. He dismissed claims of hurried decision-making, emphasizing that the Senate prioritizes due process and transparency.
READ ALSO: ‘Senate cannot be bullied, tax bills are alive’ – Bamidele
Tax Bills: Senate removes Monguno as committee member
The Senate has revised the membership of the 10-man committee established on Wednesday to liaise with the Presidency on contentious aspects of the Tax Reform Bills and removed the senate Chief Whip, Sen. Tahir Monguno (APC, Borno North) from the committee.
The change, implemented during Thursday’s plenary, came just 24 hours after the committee’s formation. The Leader of the Senate, Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central) replaced Senator Monguno with Sen. Shehu Kaka (APC, Borno Central).
However, the committee retained Senate Minority Leader Sen. Abba Moro (PDP, Benue South) as its chairman, alongside members such as Senators Adamu Aliero (PDP, Kebbi Central), Orji Kalu (APC, Abia North), Seriake Dickson (PDP, Bayelsa West), Titus Zam (APC, Benue South), Abdullahi Yahaya (PDP, Kebbi North), Adeola Olamilekan (APC, Ogun West), Sani Musa (APC, Niger East), and Adetokunbo Abiru (APC, Lagos East).
BILLS CHART FOR THE DAY
Below is OrderPaper’s signature presentation of bills taken in the Senate plenary today. Readers are invited to contact us for further information via info@orderpaper.ng or WhatsApp via +234 704 700 3031.
