REVEALED: How GENCOs, DISCOs disburse Jeeps to BPE staff – Senate

The Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) who are on the board of Distribution Companies (DISCOs) and Generation Companies (GENCOs) were given Jeeps to shortchange the country.
The revelation was made yesterday during a Senate public hearing to investigate investment made in the power sector from 1999 to 2014 and the unbundling of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).
Speaking at the hearing, Chairman of the Senate adhoc committee on power, Senator Abubakar Kyari said the BPE staffers were given Land-cruiser and Prado Jeeps by the GENCOs and DISCOs.
“I have the protection of the Senate to say what we have gathered. There are some staff of the Bureau of Public Enterprises that are board members of GENCOs and DISCOs who were given Prado and Land Cruiser Jeeps. The privileges they are getting from the private companies are more than what they are getting from their organisations,” he said.
Also spokesperson of the Senate, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi said the BPE has compromised in the privatisation of the power sector.
“Coordination is lacking in the power sector, the power ministry is lacking power. BPE as the country’s negotiator needs to be technically and morally responsible to the country. The BPE has shortchanged the country,” Abdullahi who is a member of the adhoc committee said.
However, the Director General of BPE, Mr. Benjamin Dikki opposed the senators’ claim that the BPE has short-changed the country.
He said “We are on the GENCOs and DISCOs board to protect Nigerians. What companies are paying or have given to their board members as privileges should be referred to the respective companies.”
A former Minister of Power, Engineer Bello Suleiman called for an independent scrutiny of the privatisation exercise in the power sector.
DAILY TRUST