Nobody, Not Even Saraki Has The Guts To Suspend Me From Senate – Marafa

THE leadership crisis in the Senate re-echoed at the weekend as some senators opposed to the Senate Presidency of Abubakar Bukola Saraki (the Unity Group) vowed to prevent its spokesman, Kabiru Marafa, from being suspended from the Senate.

The Senate had last week Tuesday mandated its Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions to investigate Marafa’s alleged offensive remarks against the Senate and by extension, the National Assembly. In the said remarks, Marafa, among others, kicked against the N4.7 billion car purchase plan of the Eighth Senate and alleged secrecy of accounts of the entire National Assembly.

The committee, headed by Samuel Anyanwu (PDP, Imo East), was further mandated by the Senate to come up with recommendation on action to be taken against Marafa within a week, which expires tomorrow.

But Marafa, in an interview with journalists in Abuja at the weekend, vowed that nobody in the Senate could suspend him.He said he had read through the interview over and over again, without seeing any offensive remarks he allegedly made against the Senate and by extension, the National Assembly, as revered institutions.

“Nobody, I repeat, nobody in that Senate, can suspend me over those remarks I made in the said interview, rather, it is the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, that should be suspended by the Senate for turning things upside down within the last eight months from forgery of standing orders to illegally increasing the number of standing committees in the Senate from 57 to 65 with attendant violation of ranking rules in their compositions and above all, refusing to resign as Senate President in the face of trial on corruption charges at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) and invariably battering the image of the Senate.

“He should remember that when the issue first came up in August or September last year, we didn’t tell him to resign and thus, cannot by whatever means now gag us and gag our mouths; the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria gives us the right to say our opinion, to air our views and nobody can deny us that one”, he said.
The Unity Group, which comprised Ahmed Lawal, Saraki’s main challenger in the June 9, 2015 Senate President election, and 19 other senators, is currently in court against the Senate leadership over alleged forgery of ‎Senate rules and use of same for that election.

Marafa also drew a link between the controversies rocking the 2016 budget in the Senate and the pending trial of Saraki at the CCT through the aides of Fifth Columnists shouting at different times that budget is missing, budget has been doctored, budget is padded and can no longer be passed as earlier planned.

His words: “Honestly speaking, if I am to comment on the controversy that has been trailing the 2016 budget in the Senate, I will say it is all the work of the Fifth Columnists there. You remember we woke up after 15 days or so of the receipt of the budget in the National Assembly. We woke up one day and the Senate President just came and said there is no budget, that the budget is stolen embarrassing everybody, but the following day, the Speaker said it is not stolen.

“Next, they said the budget is doctored, the budget is padded and there are discrepancies all over the place. We knew how they came into the leadership of the National Assembly or the Senate. Was it a coincidence that the issue of padding and everything just came up after the Supreme Court said go and face your trial?”

“Suddenly, we started hearing that we cannot pass the budget as we promised because there are discrepancies and so on and so fort. In a nutshell, all the noise about the budget is all about this issue of corruption trial or CCT trial. That is all, no more no less.”

Marafa, however, promised that as somebody who has the highest regard for the Senate as an institution, that he would appear before the Ethics committee when re-invited, pointing out that the committee actually invited him to appear before it last Thursday but he couldn’t on account of his being away in Kaduna to join Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi (APC, Kaduna North) in the mourning of his late mother.
Nobody can reverse new electricity tariff —Ex-NERC boss On February 22, 20163:55 amIn NewsComments By Clara Nwachukwu, Sebastine Obasi, Johnbosco Agbakwuru, Ediri Ejoh, Prince Okafor & Iloaze Blessed-Odidi, LAGOS— Despite current drop in power generation and supply, the directive by the Senate to suspend the new 45 per cent tariff hike remains invalid, as the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, said it lacked the constitutional authority to reverse the order. This came as the leadership of organised labour called for the probe of the NERC, and former chairman of the commission, Dr. Dr Sam Amadi, CEO, NERC Dr Sam Amadi, CEO, NERC , over the controversy surrounding the recent hike in electricity tariff. The declaration by NERC came as power generation in the country has plummeted to 3,664 megawatts, MW, according to information from the Federal Ministry of Power. This is happening at a time the distribution companies, DISCOs, are insisting on increasing tariff on all categories of customers without commensurate increase in electricity supply. Senate order However, justifying NERC’s stance, immediate past Chairman of NERC, Dr. Sam Amadi, described the Senate’s directive as illegal, unconstitutional and a direct encroachment on executive independence. electricityHe told Vanguard: “The order by the Senate for NERC to rescind the tariff is a direct infringement on the independence of the executive to initiate policies, in this case through NERC. It is a subtle derogation of the powers of the executive. It offends the concept of separation of power. The legislature should not interfere and direct executive action. That is clearly against the law. It is unconstitutional.” Amadi explained that apart from the Senate lacking the constitutional right to give such a directive, NERC, as currently constituted, was not competent to suspend or rescind the tariff order issued by its former Board. He argued that until a new board was reconstituted to consider reviewing or totally suspending the order, “nobody anywhere can validly review or suspend the current tariff.” He said: “It is not wise for the Senate to instruct NERC to stop the tariff. It will create serious regulatory risks across the market value chain. People will begin to look at it and say there is no independence of the industry regulator.” Attacks cause generation drop Contrary to some newspaper reports (not Vanguard), the Power Ministry on its official website said Nigeria achieved energy generation of 3,664MW last Thursday, while energy sent out was 3, 578MW. This shows 1,410MW slide from the 5,074MW, highest peak generated on February 2. It is also far below the peak demand forecast of 12,800MW. The ministry attributed the decrease in power supply to the attack on Escravos gas pipeline, which it said led to a loss of 160 million metric standard cubic feet/day, MMSFCD, of gas. Counter directive, counter results But corporate consumers, who spoke to Vanguard believed the counter orders were only making matters worse, as the Director-General, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI, Mr. Muda Yusuf, argued that the Senate directive to stay action on the new tariff regime might not achieve the desired result. He said: “It’s doubtful whether it is within the competence of the legislature to give such a directive. A better approach would be for the legislature to invite the power firms to justify the increase.” Rather than indulge in a show of power, he urged that provision of meters to consumers should be accelerated to put an end to estimated billing. On his part, National President, Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, NACCIMA, Dr. Bassey Edem, said: “We are not interested in the politics between the Executive and the Legislators. All we want is regular and sufficient power supply with which to run our businesses. This price fixing war may adversely affect the volume of power supply which will not be good for our businesses.” Similarly, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, MAN, said: “We are not in support of agencies going against the Senate. We believe that the best way to go about this whole issue is simply by dialogue.” It argued that “the tariff is welcome as long as they are charged for what is used via the installation of pre-paid meter across homes and office in the country. Like every Nigerian, we are happy that there is a hold to the tariff. Nigerians should be charged according to what is consumed. If the pre-paid meters were installed before embarking on the increase in tariff, it wouldn’t have raised eyebrows.” Tougher times Rather than getting some reprieves, Nigerians have been, instead, urged to brace up for tougher times due to the deterioration of power equipment. Managing Director, Egbin Power Plc, Mr. Kola Adesina, told Vanguard, weekend, that the primary cause of generation drop was the failure of machines and the inability to secure foreign exchange, forex, to replace them. According to him, “the overall crisis that the country is faced with is the exchange rate and that has equally trickled to the power sector. But that is not the primary cause; the primary cause is the failure of machine. But to replace those machines, you need forex and it is not available.” Organised labour wants NERC, Amadi probed Meanwhile, organised labour has called for the probe of the NERC, and the former Chairman of the commission, Dr. Sam Amadi, over the controversy surrounding the recent hike in electricity tariff by 45 per cent. The call for the probe of the former helmsman of NERC, Amadi, was based on an alleged statement credited to him (Amadi), asking the Senate to rescind its decision on the hike. Factional National President of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, in a statement in Abuja, described the statement by the former boss of NERC as “treacherous, shameful and saddening.” Wabba stated that Amadi was “being economical with the truth and his legal knowledge. The duties of the Legislature, as defined by the constitution, include legislation, oversight and investigation. “Amadi not only described the Senate directive as a ‘dangerous precedence’, but has instigated NERC not to obey the directive as ‘it would have put itself in a double bind between the executive and legislature and a violation of the provisions of the Act’.” “On our part, we demand that the directive of the NASS be respected and effected right away. We also demand that if any DISCO or GENCO does not have the requisite capacity, it should honourably surrender its possessory and proprietary rights to government as was the case with the Yola Electricity Company. The Yola company was honourable enough and reasons adduced by it, genuine. “We will not fold our arms while a few individuals or companies or institutions further plunder and plunge this country into abyss.”

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/02/nobody-can-reverse-new-electricity-tariff-ex-nerc-boss/
Nobody can reverse new electricity tariff —Ex-NERC boss On February 22, 20163:55 amIn NewsComments By Clara Nwachukwu, Sebastine Obasi, Johnbosco Agbakwuru, Ediri Ejoh, Prince Okafor & Iloaze Blessed-Odidi, LAGOS— Despite current drop in power generation and supply, the directive by the Senate to suspend the new 45 per cent tariff hike remains invalid, as the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, said it lacked the constitutional authority to reverse the order. This came as the leadership of organised labour called for the probe of the NERC, and former chairman of the commission, Dr. Dr Sam Amadi, CEO, NERC Dr Sam Amadi, CEO, NERC , over the controversy surrounding the recent hike in electricity tariff. The declaration by NERC came as power generation in the country has plummeted to 3,664 megawatts, MW, according to information from the Federal Ministry of Power. This is happening at a time the distribution companies, DISCOs, are insisting on increasing tariff on all categories of customers without commensurate increase in electricity supply. Senate order However, justifying NERC’s stance, immediate past Chairman of NERC, Dr. Sam Amadi, described the Senate’s directive as illegal, unconstitutional and a direct encroachment on executive independence. electricityHe told Vanguard: “The order by the Senate for NERC to rescind the tariff is a direct infringement on the independence of the executive to initiate policies, in this case through NERC. It is a subtle derogation of the powers of the executive. It offends the concept of separation of power. The legislature should not interfere and direct executive action. That is clearly against the law. It is unconstitutional.” Amadi explained that apart from the Senate lacking the constitutional right to give such a directive, NERC, as currently constituted, was not competent to suspend or rescind the tariff order issued by its former Board. He argued that until a new board was reconstituted to consider reviewing or totally suspending the order, “nobody anywhere can validly review or suspend the current tariff.” He said: “It is not wise for the Senate to instruct NERC to stop the tariff. It will create serious regulatory risks across the market value chain. People will begin to look at it and say there is no independence of the industry regulator.” Attacks cause generation drop Contrary to some newspaper reports (not Vanguard), the Power Ministry on its official website said Nigeria achieved energy generation of 3,664MW last Thursday, while energy sent out was 3, 578MW. This shows 1,410MW slide from the 5,074MW, highest peak generated on February 2. It is also far below the peak demand forecast of 12,800MW. The ministry attributed the decrease in power supply to the attack on Escravos gas pipeline, which it said led to a loss of 160 million metric standard cubic feet/day, MMSFCD, of gas. Counter directive, counter results But corporate consumers, who spoke to Vanguard believed the counter orders were only making matters worse, as the Director-General, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI, Mr. Muda Yusuf, argued that the Senate directive to stay action on the new tariff regime might not achieve the desired result. He said: “It’s doubtful whether it is within the competence of the legislature to give such a directive. A better approach would be for the legislature to invite the power firms to justify the increase.” Rather than indulge in a show of power, he urged that provision of meters to consumers should be accelerated to put an end to estimated billing. On his part, National President, Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, NACCIMA, Dr. Bassey Edem, said: “We are not interested in the politics between the Executive and the Legislators. All we want is regular and sufficient power supply with which to run our businesses. This price fixing war may adversely affect the volume of power supply which will not be good for our businesses.” Similarly, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, MAN, said: “We are not in support of agencies going against the Senate. We believe that the best way to go about this whole issue is simply by dialogue.” It argued that “the tariff is welcome as long as they are charged for what is used via the installation of pre-paid meter across homes and office in the country. Like every Nigerian, we are happy that there is a hold to the tariff. Nigerians should be charged according to what is consumed. If the pre-paid meters were installed before embarking on the increase in tariff, it wouldn’t have raised eyebrows.” Tougher times Rather than getting some reprieves, Nigerians have been, instead, urged to brace up for tougher times due to the deterioration of power equipment. Managing Director, Egbin Power Plc, Mr. Kola Adesina, told Vanguard, weekend, that the primary cause of generation drop was the failure of machines and the inability to secure foreign exchange, forex, to replace them. According to him, “the overall crisis that the country is faced with is the exchange rate and that has equally trickled to the power sector. But that is not the primary cause; the primary cause is the failure of machine. But to replace those machines, you need forex and it is not available.” Organised labour wants NERC, Amadi probed Meanwhile, organised labour has called for the probe of the NERC, and the former Chairman of the commission, Dr. Sam Amadi, over the controversy surrounding the recent hike in electricity tariff by 45 per cent. The call for the probe of the former helmsman of NERC, Amadi, was based on an alleged statement credited to him (Amadi), asking the Senate to rescind its decision on the hike. Factional National President of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, in a statement in Abuja, described the statement by the former boss of NERC as “treacherous, shameful and saddening.” Wabba stated that Amadi was “being economical with the truth and his legal knowledge. The duties of the Legislature, as defined by the constitution, include legislation, oversight and investigation. “Amadi not only described the Senate directive as a ‘dangerous precedence’, but has instigated NERC not to obey the directive as ‘it would have put itself in a double bind between the executive and legislature and a violation of the provisions of the Act’.” “On our part, we demand that the directive of the NASS be respected and effected right away. We also demand that if any DISCO or GENCO does not have the requisite capacity, it should honourably surrender its possessory and proprietary rights to government as was the case with the Yola Electricity Company. The Yola company was honourable enough and reasons adduced by it, genuine. “We will not fold our arms while a few individuals or companies or institutions further plunder and plunge this country into abyss.”