Kebbi Electricity Panel Promises Justice, Transparency In Operations

The electricity committee recently constituted by the Kebbi Government has assured residents and the management of Kaduna Electric of fairness, equity and justice in discharging its assignment.

The committee chairman, Alhaji Usman Abubakar, disclosed this shortly after a meeting held at the Ministry of Rural and Community Development, Bola Tinubu Secretariat, Birnin Kebbi, on Wednesday.

The state government constituted the committee comprising government officials, civil society organisations (CSOs), trade unions and representatives of Kaduna Electric.

The committee is mandated to investigate the root causes of erratic power supply to Kebbi and proffer lasting solutions to the lingering problem.

Abubakar, who also chairs the Kebbi Development Forum (KDF), said the committee was formed to holistically address electricity challenges and provide sustainable, practical solutions.

He said that since its inauguration by the state government last week, members had swung into action to achieve the set goals and objectives.

“The mandate of this committee is to critically engage Kaduna Electric on issues relating to power supply, specifically those raised during a town hall meeting with the governor.

“We are to examine the quantum of electricity supplied to the state, payments made so far, and verify claims on whether consumers are complying with payment of electricity bills.

“His Excellency, Governor Nasir Idris, gave us two weeks to complete the assignment because of its urgency,” he said.

Abubakar added that members had deliberated and mapped out strategies to carry out the assignment effectively.

He said three sub-committees were created comprising the Technical and Supply Review Committee, headed by an electrical engineer and District Head of Dunbegu, Alhaji Abdussalam Muhammad.

According to him, other committees are the Commercial and Billing Committee, chaired by the Commissioner for Rural and Community Development, Garba Salisu-Takware; and the Community Engagement and Corporate Social Responsibility Committee, which he heads.

The chairman stressed the need for wider engagement to allow other critical stakeholders to contribute to their findings.

“We are only privileged to serve on the committee, but there are others who are more knowledgeable.

“We don’t take that for granted, that’s is why we resolved to engage everyone who has something to offer,” he noted.

Abubakar said the government set up the committee not to apportion blame but to find lasting solutions to the problem bedevilling the state.

To that end, he said, the Managing Director of Kaduna Electric, the Regional Manager and the Area Manager were also members of the committee.

“We hope to come up with concrete, sustainable and practical recommendations to the government,” he said.

He thanked the governor for finding members of the committee worthy of the assignment and promised to deliver quality job that would lead to improved and steady electricity supply across the state