The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has asked President Bola Tinnubu to hold his Minister of Power, Mr. Adebayo Adelabu responsible for the country’s incessant grid collapse, alleging that he (Adelabu) is grossly incompetent for the job.
HURIWA issued a scathing condemnation of the minister, citing irredeemable incompetence in addressing the recurrent crisis plaguing the nation’s power sector.
The group’s remark came on the heels of the national grid collapse on Monday, which plunged most parts of the country into darkness.
According to HURIWA, the latest collapse, which reportedly saw the national grid plummet from 2,583.77MW at 2am on Monday to 64.7MW around 3 am, plunging the entire nation into total blackout, has sparked widespread concern regarding the reliability of Nigeria’s electricity supply.
This latest failure adds to a series of similar incidents, highlighting systemic issues within the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).
HURIWA’s National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, expressed dismay at Adebayo’s failure to proactively address the persistent grid collapses, which have had far-reaching consequences for millions of Nigerians.
The association emphasized that the minister’s inability to mitigate the crisis reflects a grave dereliction of duty and a blatant disregard for the welfare of citizens.
“The continuous collapse of the national grid is a clear indication of the Minister of Power’s failure to fulfill his duties and obligations to the Nigerian people. The minister’s incompetence has plunged the nation into darkness, jeopardizing the livelihoods and well-being of millions of citizens,” remarked Onwubiko for HURIWA
HURIWA further criticized the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and Distribution Companies (DisCos) for engaging in a blame game, rather than taking decisive action to address the underlying issues contributing to the grid failures. The association emphasized the need for accountability and urged the federal government to hold responsible parties to task for their failures.
Recalling that the latest collapse marks the sixth occurrence this year alone – which underscores the urgent need for comprehensive reforms within the power sector – HURIWA called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene and ensure that the Minister of Power is held accountable for his ineffectiveness in managing the crisis.
In addition to condemning the minister’s alleged incompetence, HURIWA proposed a series of measures to shore up the nation’s power infrastructure and prevent future grid collapses, including investment in infrastructure, decentralization of the power sector, accountability and transparency, and public participation.
“The Federal government must prioritize investment in modernizing and expanding the transmission and distribution networks to enhance the reliability and stability of the power grid. We also advocate for the decentralization of the power sector to reduce vulnerability and improve efficiency. By decentralizing power generation and distribution, the government can mitigate the impact of grid failures and ensure more reliable electricity supply to all regions of the country.
“Additionally, the Federal government must hold accountable all stakeholders within the power sector, including government agencies, regulatory bodies, and private sector operators. Transparency in decision-making and accountability for actions are essential to restoring public trust and confidence in the sector.
“More so, we urge the federal government to actively engage with civil society organizations, consumer advocacy groups, and other stakeholders to solicit input and feedback on policy decisions and initiatives within the power sector. Public participation is critical to ensuring that policies and reforms are responsive to the needs and priorities of Nigerian citizens,” HURIWA added.
Finally, HURIWA reiterated its call for urgent action to address the systemic failures within Nigeria’s power sector and hold responsible parties accountable for their actions. The association stressed that Nigerians deserve a reliable and stable electricity supply, and it is incumbent upon the government to prioritize the welfare and well-being of its citizens by implementing comprehensive reforms within the power sector.
Earlier, the former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai had advised President Tinubu to sack any of his appointees who fails to perform to capacity.
“You appointed a person into a position and he is not working according to the expectation, you should have the humility to tell him that I need a better person, go and do something else,” the former FCT Minister said.