By Luminous Jannamike
ABUJA – Policy analysts, under the aegis of Association for Public Policy Analysis (APPA), has faulted alleged moves by the Senate to stall the approval of funding for the Energizing Education Programme of the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing as captured in the 2018 budget proposal.

Saraki

The Energizing Education Programme covers a N10bn solar project which aims at the provision of solar electricity to the 37 federal universities in the country with a view to rejuvenating the nation’s education system through the supply of uninterrupted power.

However, the Senate Committee on Power, Steel Development and Metallurgy led by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe criticised the project during the Power Ministry’s budget defense last week; saying, “there is a better way to deploy the funds if the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) had N10 billion to ‘play round’ with.”

But speaking in Abuja, during a protest rally on Thursday, APPA’s National President, Princewill Okorie, called on the leadership of the National Assembly to ensure that the solar electrification project gets necessary legislative approvals; stressing that, in the long run, it is not only cost-effective, but also beneficial to the nation at large, if universities use solar electricity for their activities.

His words: “We appreciate the ability of solar electricity to provide regular uninterrupted power supply in university environment which shall enhance illumination, academic and progressive engagements, while dispelling darkness which promote nefarious activities on campus.

“It is our duty as Nigerians to advocate for policies that will enhance the well-being of Nigerians by drawing attention of the National Assembly members to issues that will be favourable and patriotic without bias or personal interest.

“Audit of electricity provision cost in the bnations’s universities will show that the amount of money spent on purchase of diesel, fuel, and generators in a year will be close to N10bn being proposed by the Federal Ministry of Power for solar energy for the 37 universities in the 2018 federal budget.

“Consequent upon the above, we request that the most revered Huse of Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria should resolve whaterver ambiguities associated the budegte and approve the funding of Energizing Education Programme which has the proposed provision of solar energy in 37 universities in the country for the benfit of Nigerian youths and students.”