Reps query approval of N2.7b severance package to NERC board members

The House of Representatives on Wednesday, mandated its Committee on Power to investigate alleged approval of N2.7 billion severance package to members of the board of Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
This emanated from a motion under matter of urgent public importance, sponsored by Rep. Mohammed Gololo (Bauchi-APC).
In the motion, Gololo described the board’s approval of the payment of such package as unconstitutional, saying that it was not authorised by the National Assembly in the 2015 Appropriation Act.
He added that the planned payment conflicted with the recommendations of the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission.
He argued that the approval also offended section 42 (1) (a) and (b) of the Electric Power Sector Reform Act, adding that NERC had no recurrent expenditure in the 2015 budget.
“This suggests that the commission either does not pay any salaries to its board members and staff or pay salaries from funds that have not been paid into the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation,’’ Gogolo said.
The motion was unanimously adopted by the lawmakers, and was referred to the Committee on Power for investigation.