By Kunle KALEJAYE

As the privatisation of the power sector wind down, there are indications that due to the low budget allocation to the sector in the 2013 budget, various operations of Successor Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN are currently foot dragging across the country.

While presenting the 2013 budget to the National Assembly, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who doubles as the Minister of Finance and the Co-ordinating Minister of the Economy, said that the Federal Government remains focused on critical economic and social sectors.

According to her “Some of these sectors are largely driven by private sector activity, while others require a great deal of public sector support. “Some key allocations are as follows: Critical Infrastructure (including Power, Works, Transport, Aviation, Gas pipelines, and Federal Capital Territory) – N497 billion.

In the 2013 budget, the Federal Ministry of Energy (Power) head quarter received the sum of N788,923,595 for personnel cost; N531,473,487 for over-head cost; N1,320,397,083 for total recurrent. Total capital was N23,505,345,668; and total allocation was N24,825,742,751.

The 2013 budget did not make any provision for Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN for personnel cost, over-head cost and total recurrent. However, N33,849,634,011 and N33,849,634,011 was drafted total capital and total allocation respectively.

For National Rural Electrification Agency, N588,919,178 was allotted for personnel cost; N60,876,666 for over-head cost; N649,795,844 for total recurrent; N 5,806,421,450 for total capital and N 6,456,217,294 as total allocation.

For the regulatory body of the power sector, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, received N776,676,820 for personnel cost; N327,891,415 for over-head cost; N1,104,568,235 for recurrent; N3,500,000,000 for capital; and N4,604,568,235 as total allocation.

National Power Training Institute, NAPTI, grabbed N854,815,640 for personnel cost; N122,585,990 for over-head cost; N977,401,630 for recurrent; N3,103,000,720 for capital and N 4,080,402,350 as total allocation.

Nigeria Electricity Liability Management Limited  was not left out from the pie of cake as N116,820,879 was allotted for personnel cost; N93,396,224 for over-head cost; N210,217,103 for recurrent; N235,598,151 for capital and N445,815,254 as total allocation.

Despite the above figures, however, findings revealed that some of Distribution Companies of PHCN across the country are confronted with severe hurdles over smooth operations.

Some top PHCN management who crave anonymity, spoke to Sweetcrude on their operations for the first quarter of 2013.

“The first quarter (Q1) of 2013 has been very rough for us. Nothing is happening except for the various NIPP projects that are ongoing and are close to completion. Due to low budget allocation, our hands are tied. We have not had our quarterly press briefing, where we project our various activities for the first quarter to the press.