Energy commission owes contractors N5.7bn – DG

The Director General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), Prof Bala Jidere Eli, has said the agency owes contractors N5.78 billion for constituency projects executed under its 2009-2012 capital projects. He disclosed this yesterday while speaking on some of the challenges facing the agency when he appeared before the House Committee on Science and […]

The Director General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), Prof Bala Jidere Eli, has said the agency owes contractors N5.78 billion for constituency projects executed under its 2009-2012 capital projects.

He disclosed this yesterday while speaking on some of the challenges facing the agency when he appeared before the House Committee on Science and Technology for the 2022 budget defense.

A breakdown of the indebtedness includes N188.4 million in 2009; N3.2bn in 2010; 1.07bn in 2011 and N1.2bn in 2012.

Prof Bala said the indebtedness was due to the non-release of funds, adding that inadequate funding has been a challenge of the commission.

The DG suggested the need for the taking over of the debt owed contractors by the Debt Management Office (DMO).

He made a budget presentation of N9.7bn comprising N7bn for capital, N2.7bn for recurrent, N2.3bn for personnel and N358.5m for overhead.

Earlier in her opening remarks, Chairman of the House Committee on Science and Technology, Beni Lar, urged the commission to explore renewable energy sources to boost power supply in the country, adding that the energy sector can be a major foreign exchange earner for the country.

She also charged the commission to use the 2022 budget to empower and improve the economic livelihoods of the youths.