COVID-19: Gbajabiamila sets up committee to determine those eligible for free electricity
- The proposed two-month free power supply will not be enjoyed by all Nigerians, the Nigerian government has clarified
- The speaker of the House of Representatives, Gbajabiamila, said a joint committee has been set up with power stakeholders to determine vulnerable Nigerians who will benefit from the palliative
- Gbajabiamila said the committee will identify Nigerians that will benefit from the free power supply using the number of households connected to the national grid
The Nigerian government has issued clarifications regarding those who may benefit from the proposed two-month free power supply which is part of the efforts to cushion the effects of the coronavirus pandemic lockdown.
The House of Representatives on Thursday, April 16, and other stakeholders in the power sector agreed to establish a joint committee to determine the vulnerable Nigerians who should enjoy the bill waiver.
The speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, who was quoted in a statement by his special adviser on media and publicity, Lanre Lasisi, said the joint panel’s mandate is to work out modalities for the proposed two-month free power supply, Daily Trust reports.
He added that the committee will identify Nigerians that will benefit from the free power supply using the number of households connected to the national grid.
Gbajabiamila said the essence of the meeting was to proffer means of alleviating the socio-economic effects of COVID-19 on Nigerians during and after the crisis through the supply of power.
The speaker noted that his previous engagements with some critical power sector stakeholders were very encouraging.
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that the Ministry of Power said no decision had been reached on whether Nigerians would get free electricity for two months.
This was disclosed in a message on the official Facebook page of the Office of the Minister of Power, Nigeria, on Friday, April 10.
According to the ministry, the federal government is still working on ways ameliorate the sufferings of Nigerians caused by the coronavirus pandemic ravaging the world.
The ministry said the government would officially communicate its decision when it finally arrives at one.
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The power minister's statement came less than 48 hours after reports surfaced that the federal government and Distribution Companies (DisCos) had agreed to provide free electricity for all Nigerians.
Barrister Sunday Oduntan, the executive director of research and advocacy at the Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors (ANED), had on Wednesday, April 8, said the offer was aimed at making life easier, during the lockdown period.
Legit.ng had also reported that the House of Representatives proposed a second stimulus bill that will enable Nigerians to enjoy two months of free electricity.
The speaker of the House, Gbajabiamila, in a statement on Saturday, April 4, disclosed that the bill was intended to boost the economy amid the coronavirus pandemic in Nigeria.
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Source: Legit.ng