REA MD have until March 2 to appear before House Committee on Renewable Energy as lawmakers frowned at his failure to honour the committee’s earlier summon
The House of Representatives Committee on Renewable Energy has directed the Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) to appear in person before it on Tuesday, March 2, following his failure to attend an ongoing investigative hearing in Abuja.
Chairman of the Committee, Afam Ogene, issued the directive on Wednesday, warning that official duties must not be trivialised. He also ordered the agency to submit a comprehensive written response to issues raised by the committee within 48 hours.
“We, as lawmakers, are elected to hold public officers accountable in line with Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended),” Rep. Ogene said.
Committee members expressed strong displeasure over the absence of the REA Managing Director.
Parliament Reports had earlier reported the agency head was summoned to appear before the committee unfailingly on Wednesday.
Speaking on the development, Rep. Kwamoti Laori described the absence as highly disrespectful, warning that such conduct should no longer be tolerated. He called for the issuance of a warrant of arrest through the Inspector-General of Police should the directive be ignored.
In a similar vein, Rep. Shina Oyedeji stressed that public officers must account for their stewardship, particularly given the substantial grants and public funds managed by the agency.
Responding on behalf of the REA, the Executive Director, Corporate Services, Mr. Gboyega Ayoade, tendered an unreserved apology and appealed for additional time, insisting that the Managing Director’s absence was neither deliberate nor intended as a slight on the committee.
Meanwhile, the National President of the Licensed Electrical Contractors Association of Nigeria (LECAN), Vitus Ofodum Vitus Ikenna, urged the committee to mandate the use of certified electrical professionals in renewable energy projects nationwide.
He warned that assigning green energy projects to entities lacking technical capacity could result in substandard installations, safety hazards, and the loss of public funds.
LECAN, whose members are certified by the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) under the Electricity Act 2023, expressed concern that many donor-funded renewable energy projects are awarded to unqualified contractors, leading to abandoned or failed installations.
Ikenna called for stronger enforcement powers for NEMSA to prosecute safety and standards violations, insisting that stricter oversight is essential to protecting lives, ensuring sustainability, and delivering value for money in Nigeria’s renewable energy sector.
