CSOs back re-appointment of Energy Commission DG, fault workers” protest
A coalition of Civil Society Groups on Tuesday backed the re-appointment of Prof. Eli Bala Jidere as the Director General of Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN). The CSOs said President Muhammadu Buhari has taken his stand on integrity a notch higher by that action. The group under the aegis of League of Civil Society Groups […]
A coalition of Civil Society Groups on Tuesday backed the re-appointment of Prof. Eli Bala Jidere as the Director General of Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN).
The CSOs said President Muhammadu Buhari has taken his stand on integrity a notch higher by that action.
The group under the aegis of League of Civil Society Groups spoke against the backdrop of the protest against Prof. Jidere’s reappointment by some members of staff of the commission.
President of the league, Bar. Adefila Kamal and National Secretary, Amb Mukhtar Akoshile in a statement insisted that the tenure of the DG has brought about far – reaching reforms in the commission, saying those criticizing his reappointment are not ready to move on from the old ways of running government.
According to the league, the union could not point at any financial misconduct committed by the DG.
"Prof. Eli Jidere reduced the Commission’s debt on constituency projects to N6.5billion from N16billion in 2013, while ensuring that no new debt was incurred on executed projects by paying fully for all contracts entered into in the period", it said.
The CSOs noted that "Prof. Jidere had, during his first term in office, restored sanity and probity to the management of the Commission, instilling financial discipline and openness in governance making hitherto opaque processes such as procurement open to the general public."
Saying the commission belongs to all Nigerians, the group vowed to resist any attempt to hold such a sensitive agency of government to ransom, adding that "the march towards energy sufficiency for Nigeria will not be scuttled by any vested interest as these will incur the wrath of the people."
The statement added: "On the international scene, Prof. Jidere ensured that Nigeria’s contributions to international energy organization’s were fully paid up, which was a far departure from the past, facilitating the election of Nigeria as Vice President of International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)."
The group commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his steadfastness in "re-appointing Prof. Jidere to continue the good work he has done so far and consolidate on the achievements recorded so far."