Probe Amadi’s Tenure As Nerc Chairman – Nlc President Demands

BEVERLY HILLS, February 21, (THEWILL) – Leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called for an investigation into the operations of the immediate past Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Mr. Sam Amadi.

Ayuba Wabba, NLC President, gave the charge while reacting to a statement credited to Amadi, who allegedly termed the call by the Senate to rescind the 45 percent electricity tariff as ‘illegal, unconstitutional and a direct encroachment on the executive independence.’

Wabba in a statement titled ‘Probe NERC and Amadi,’ described Amadi’s position as “treacherous, shameful and saddening.

“Dr Amadi had among other things said the directive of the Senate is “illegal, unconstitutional and a direct encroachment on the executive independence, and that NERC as presently constituted cannot suspend or rescind the decision by the previous NERC commission,” Wabba said.

“Dr Amadi is being economical with the truth and his legal knowledge. The duties of the Legislature as defined by the constitution include legislation, oversight and investigation. Beside this, elementary knowledge of the Social Sciences tells us that independence of the three arms of government in a liberal democracy is a coordinate one. Even if it were absolute, such independence cannot be in pursuance of criminality, fraud or injustice.

“Secondly, we find it disgusting that Dr Amadi could only remember the independence of the Executive and not that of the Judiciary, which gave an earlier order and still subsisting that no increment be made until the determination of the substantive case.

“Amadi not only described the Senate directive as a “dangerous precedence”, but has instigated NERC not to obey the directive as it would have put itself in a double bind between the executive and legislature and a violation of the provisions of the Act.

“We are disgusted by this and are accordingly calling on the relevant agencies to probe not just the tenure of Amadi at NERC but the entire privatisation process of the power sector which he stage-managed. We are also keen to know his relationship with some of the Discos for whom he has become chief spokesman.

“We also demand that if any Disco or Genco does not have the requisite capacity, it should honourably surrender its possessory and proprietary rights to government as was the case with the Yola Electricity Company. The Yola Company was honourable enough and reasons adduced by it, genuine.

“While we are ready to submit ourselves to the ongoing intervention process at the NASS, we must sound a note of warning that we shall not allow any one to take the people of this country for a ride any more. Let the Amadis of this world listen, if they have ears.”

Story by David Oputah