Posted by By LUCKY NWANKWERE, Abuja on
President Umaru Yar'Adua has said at no time did he okay an increase in electricity tariff, describing the hike in the tariff announced by the Minister of State for Energy (Power), Hajia Fatima Ibrahim, as unauthorised.
President Umaru Yar'Adua has said at no time did he okay an increase in electricity tariff, describing the hike in the tariff announced by the Minister of State for Energy (Power), Hajia Fatima Ibrahim, as unauthorised.
The minister had last Wednesday at the on-going Nigerian Oil and Gas (NOG) conference in Abuja announced the increase in tariff, saying it was necessary if Nigeria must realise its vision of becoming one of the world's top 20 economies by 2020.
A highly reliable source in the presidency, who craved anonymity, told Daily Sun in Abuja yesterday that the president was so upset by the media reports on the increased tariff attributed to the minister that he had to delay his trip to Bornu State yesterday on account of that.
President Yar'Adua, he said, had made it clear that he would not approve of any increase in tariff on electricity until there is stable power supply in the country and had accordingly directed the minister to take steps to retract the statement.
'The president invited the minister over the issue. There is no plan to increase tariff on electricity and no such thing would be done until Nigerians can get stable power supply. That is the position of the president.
'He was very angry after reading the report on the increase and has asked the minister to retract her statement. Nigerians can rest assured that no kobo will be added until they begin to enjoy stable electricity. And the president is working round the clock to ensure that," he stated.
Daily Sun gathered that the president was equally unhappy with the controversy over the sale of NITEL/MTEL to Transcorp because of the interpretation given to his approval on the disengagement of Transcorp from NITEL/MITEL which, he said, portrayed his administration as one which does not respect agreements reached in respect of privatised government institutions.
Irked by the development, the president yesterday delayed his trip to Maiduguri as he held a meeting with Odey and Ibrahim, the two ministers concerned.
At the meeting, he was said to have directed them to ensure they corrected the impression created by the reports as well as retracted that on the increased tariff.
The president was said to have asked Odey to hold a meeting and a joint press conference with the chairman of Transcorp and Director General of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Prof. Ndi Onyiuke-Okereke to clear the air about the approval he gave on the disengagement of Transcorp from the sale NITEL/MTEL.
'On the controversy over the revocation of the sale of NITEL/MITEL to Transcorp, the president said he could not understand how what he approved was distorted in the media and directed Odey to hold a meeting and joint press conference with the Transcorp chairman, Dr. Okereke-Onyiuke. The President's approval tallied with what Transcorp had agreed with the Federal Government', he further stated.
'This president believes that the best way to harness and properly address the nation's economic challenges is through the Private-Public Partnership (PPP). So, how can he take a decision that injures private investment? What the president approved on NITEL/MTEL was a decision already agreed between the Federal Government and Transcorp to rescue the telecommunications company that is very strategic for the nation.
'The president would soon address the nation on his efforts to redirect the economy. And with that, Nigerians would appreciate what he has spent the last eight months doing. He has clear direction on the power sector and would come out clearly with targets and timelines that will be met on power generation, transmission and distribution.
'The emergency in the sector would also be declared soon and it would be far-reaching, not the type of thing most Nigerians envisage. What the president is coming out with is tied to the future of the country and not just the cosmetic approach or mere pronouncement," he added.