Reps committees clash over renewable energy oversight
The House of Representatives Committee on Renewable Energy on Tuesday issued what it described as a final summons to the Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Abba Abubakar
The House of Representatives Committee on Renewable Energy on Tuesday issued what it described as a final summons to the Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Abba Abubakar Aliyu.
Also given the same order, was the Head of the Nigeria Electrification Programme (NEP), Olufemi Akinyelure.
This followed their failure to appear before the Committee which is investigating grants, loans and investments in Nigeria’s renewable energy sector between 2015 and 2024, with a particular focus on fund disbursement, project implementation, and compliance with statutory and financial regulations.
At the resumed investigative hearing in Abuja on Tuesday, the Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Afam Victor Ogene, expressed displeasure over what he described as repeated non-compliance by the agency’s leadership with invitations extended by the panel.
He warned that if the two officials fail to appear before the committee on Thursday, March 5, 2026, at 2 p.m., lawmakers would be compelled to invoke their constitutional powers to enforce attendance.
“The MD of the Rural Electrification Agency, despite his subterfuge to avoid appearing before this committee, will not get away with it lightly,” Ogene said.
“The Constitution is quite clear that this committee of the House of Representatives has the power to compel appearance. However, in the spirit of magnanimity, we are issuing a last and final invitation for them to appear on Thursday, the 5th day of March 2026, at 2 p.m. Failing which, this committee will have no other option but to issue a warrant of arrest.”
Ogene emphasised that the probe forms part of the National Assembly’s constitutional mandate to ensure transparency and accountability in the management of public and donor funds, particularly in the renewable energy sector, which plays a key role in rural development and national economic growth.
Meanwhile, indications have emerged of a jurisdictional dispute within the House over which committee has primary oversight responsibility for the Rural Electrification Agency.
In a letter dated February 27, 2026, addressed to the REA Managing Director, the Chairman of the House Committee on Rural Electrification Agency, Hon. Muhammad Ibrahim Bukar, asserted that his committee is “the duly constituted Standing Committee of the House of Representatives vested with primary oversight over the REA, including its financial operations, utilisation of grants and loans, project implementation activities, and institutional performance.”
According to the letter, the adoption of a motion on the House floor or general references to agencies involved in renewable energy cannot override the express allocation of responsibilities.
The communication explained that while the Committee on Renewable Energy has a broad mandate over sector-wide policies, specific operational, financial and administrative matters of the REA — including project domiciliation, grant utilisation and deployment of renewable energy projects — fall solely within the Rural Electrification Committee’s jurisdiction.
In the correspondence, Bukar directed the agency to channel all matters relating to legislative oversight, inquiries, documentation requests and appearances concerning its operations strictly through the House Committee on Rural Electrification.
He also instructed the agency to refrain from responding to or engaging in parallel correspondence with any other committee of the House on matters that fall squarely within his committee’s oversight jurisdiction, particularly where such issues are already under review.
The letter further advised the agency to formally refer any communications received from other committees touching on REA-specific issues to his committee for appropriate coordination and guidance.
Bukar warned that attempts to conduct parallel inquiries into the REA without formal coordination could undermine institutional order and create unnecessary friction.
He added that the current structure of House committees — now expanded to over 120 specialised panels — was deliberately designed to avoid overlapping responsibilities.