Edo State House of Assembly gave nod to the state government to make provision of the sum of $33.370.589.54million supplementary appropriation for the contribution to the power sector intervention fund.
BusinessDay reports that the house had in April 2013 gave the go ahead to the state government to source the sum of N4billion power sector special intervention.
The house had also in 2008 during the administration of Oserhiemen Osunbor approved the amount for the state government in response to the federal government request on the power sector.
The previous government said the amount attributed to the state government and its 18 local governments is $33.370.589.54million and $21.542.121.82million respectively totaling $54.912.711.36million.
The house which frowned at the non implementation of the resolution by the previous executive arms, however approved the sum of $33.370.589.54million for the state government supplementary appropriation to finance the power sector.
The bill was unanimously approved by members of the house.
Peter Aliu, APC member representing Etsako East constituency who moved the motion said the approval of the amount was necessitated for the people of the state to be part owner of the recent power sector reform.
Aliu who is the chairman appropriation committee of the house said the state has to pay the amount in naira equivalent which he noted was counterpart fund to finance the emergency power sector project of the federal government.
He added that the power sector special intervention fund would lead to the socio- economic development of the state especially in the industrial sub sector as well as reduce epileptic power supply in the state.
He said the amount would be deducted monthly from the federation allocation due to the state on installment.
According to him, for us to be able to be part of this story of the federal government to revamp the sector and give power back to Nigerians, Edo State need to have its own share for its people so that at the end of the day if it does work the state will not be left out in the comity of states in the country.
“Because other states have already contributed by buying of shares in this sector and the state being a very strategic state to South- South, South West- South East I think it will be of immensely benefit for the state to contribute and have its own part for the people of the state so that at the end of the day if the power sector as proposed by the federal government works the state will not only have power but will have with the infrastructural development going on across the state at the moment will attract investors to establish businesses in the state.
“The sum of $33,370,589.54billion is required to be contributed by the state as part of its special intervention contribution fund to the sector and the equivalent of its in naira is expected to be contribution of the state,” he said.
By: IDRIS UMAR MOMOH
