Ogun State House of Assembly has strongly canvassed for the removal of electricity generation and distribution from the exclusive legislative list to the concurrent list, to ensure regular supply of power to both residential and Industrial areas of the state.
Establishment of energy system by state government according to the house, will cater for the need of the people especially in rural areas and other places not covered by the national grid.
Speaker of the house, Right. Honourable. Olakunle Oluomo, made the call on Wednesday during a public hearing held at the Assembly Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta on two bills including the one seeking the establishment of the State Energy Board to coordinate programmes and other initiatives to improve energy generation supply and Drive Socio-economic Development in the State and for connected matters" and another bill which provides for establishment of the State Safety Commission to coordinate all the safety regulations in the state.
Oluomo stressed the need for the domestication of electricity-related issues through issuance of license interested investors , particularly the state owned enery outfit to cater for the population and geographical peculiarity of the society towards ensuring seamless distribution of power supply to the people .
He explained that such state- owned, energy generation and distribution body would also assist the distribution companies like the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) in areas of logistics by engaging them to connect those not connected to the national grid and ensure power get to nooks and crannies of the state
The speaker however assured IBEDC that the Ogun State Energy Board Bill, when passed and assented to by the governor would complement the role of the company, with a charge to them to provide prepaid meters to existing subscribers towards checkmating excessive service charges.
Oluomo who declared the public hearing open on the two bills explained that the Energy Board would ensure sustainable provision of energy for Industrial growth of the state while that of Safety Commission would ensure safety of lives and property in the state .
His words"let me state here, that as part of efforts of the present administration in the State to chart a new course to ensure the safety of lives and property of its people in the State, as well as provide sustainable energy for industrial growth.
According to him" The essential ingredient to make government policies stand the test of time, is legal instrument (Law), hence, the importance of legislative backup cannot be over looked."
"Let me assure all stakeholders present here that these Bills, seeking to make provision for the establishment of the Ogun State Safety Commission as well as Establish the Ogun State Energy Board in the State will be given accelerated passage to improve the security architecture of the State as well as provide the needed energy required for industrial growth in the State. The bills are aimed at providing enabling environment, for improvement of the socio-economic activities in our dear State."the speaker assured.
Assuring that the bills would be passed before the end of the year, Oluomo said the forum being one of the core mandates of the Assembly was organised to ensure due legislative process before the passage of the bills to further ensure that the State meet up with current realities of safety security and energy challenges.
The House Committee Chairman on Works and Infrastructure, Abayomi Fasuwa had stressed the importance of safety and energy supply to human and socio-economic activities, submitting that the State Government remained proactive in its resolve towards ensuring the safety of lives and properties as well as ensure efficient and uninterrupted electricity generation, distribution and supply with a view to promoting economic growth of the State.
Stakeholders including the Special Adviser to the Governor on Energy, Engr. Laolu Adubifa, State Regional Head, IBEDC, Engr. Ademola Adewunmi, State Deputy Chairman, Nigeria Institute of Quantity Surveyors, Ayoade Sorunke, representatives of the State Ministries of Environment, Physical Planning and Urban Development, State Environmental Protection Agency amongst others lauded the Assembly for being responsive and responsible to the yearnings of the people
They said that the legislations would help coordinate all issues relating to establishment of Independent Power Plant for the State and uniform safety measures for compliance by all industries.
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