The Speaker of Ondo State House of Assembly, Olamide Oladiji, on Wednesday, December 13, declared Deputy Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa as acting governor, following the receipt of the letter from Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu on transmitting power.
He, however, clarified that a constitutional procedure is required, and he would direct the Clerk of the House to provide his consent to the Secretary of the State Government.
Oladiji said that he had told the House members about the meeting with President Bola Tinubu and that they had accepted the governor’s letter.
According to the speaker, there won’t be any sitting on the matter as he will release a press statement after concluding the process of transmitting power to the deputy governor.
Aiyedatiwa will now take over the duties of the governor in an acting capacity until a formal declaration to the contrary is made, according to the Speaker’s statement.
The statement reads partly: “Following the Doctor’s advice on the need for medical follow-up after recuperating, Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN, CON has forwarded the letter on medical leave to the State House of Assembly.
Receiving the letter on behalf of other lawmakers, the Speaker, Ondo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Olamide Oladiji said the Governor’s action is in line with Section 190 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
[TheNation]
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwoolu and the FirstBank Group have joined notable Nigerians and organisations that have expressed their heartfelt condolences to Dr. Bisi Onasanya, the founder of The Address Homes, on the demise of his mother, Mrs. Selimot Olaleye Elizabeth Onasanya (Nee Folorunsho), who passed away on November 16, 2023.
Dr. Bisi Onasanya is a distinguished banker, chartered accountant, teal estate Colossus, and the former Group Managing Director of FirstBank PLC.
In a letter to Dr. Onasanya, Governor Sanwoolu conveyed his sympathies and acknowledged the impact of the loss on him and the entire Onasanya family. The governor also praised Mrs. Onasanya's legacy and noted her significant contributions to family values, kindness, discipline, and godliness.
Dr. Bisi Onasanya
"Mama was indeed a matriarch, whose life was a testament to the enduring values of hard work, honesty, and love for family. At 88, she had lived a fulfilling life, leaving an indelible mark not just on her family but on the people whose lives she touched. Her nurturing resilience and dedication to family and community are traits that we will always cherish when we remember her.
"I understand that no amount of words can take away the pain you feel at this time, but please take solace in the fact that she lived a worthy and impactful life. Her legacy lives on in you, her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Her values, teaching, and love will continue to guide and inspire generations of your family. Please accept my deepest condolences on behalf of the government and people of Lagos State, and indeed, on my own behalf, for this significant loss," Sanwoolu said in the letter he signed personally and addressed to Onasanya.
FirstBank, through its CEO, Dr. Adesola Adeduntan also extended condolences to Dr. Onasanya and family in a letter titled 'we mourn with you.'
The letter recognized Mrs. Selimot Olaleye Elizabeth Onasanya's remarkable life, underscoring her lasting legacy of kindness, discipline, and uprightness.
The letter reads, "On behalf of the Board and staff of FirstBank, I extend my deepest condolences to you and your family on the passing of your beloved mother, the late Mrs. Selimot Olaleye Elizabeth Onasanya (Nee Folorunsho), who lived to the ripe age of 88 years.
"The passing of such a wonderful woman must be a huge loss, not only to you but to the entire Onasanya family. However, I urge you to find solace in the fact that Mama lived a long, noteworthy, and fulfilled life. Her outstanding qualities and lasting legacy of kindness, discipline, exemplary family values, godliness, and uprightness will be fondly remembered by many.
"At FirstBank, we share in your grief and extend our heartfelt sympathy to you, your entire family, friends, and well-wishers on this painful and irreparable loss. May Almighty God grant her soul peaceful rest, comfort you and the entire family at this time of grief, and grant you the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss."
The burial rites for Mrs. Selimot Olaleye Elizabeth Onasanya is scheduled to take place on December 14, 2023, with a burial service at the Abundant Life Baptist Church, Ijede, Ikorodu, Lagos State, at 9 am. The service will be followed by an interment at the Ikoyi Cemetery (private wing), strictly for family members. A reception will follow at 2 pm in Victoria Island in Lagos.
Rivers State House of Assembly, on Wednesday, declared vacant the seats of the 27 members of the House who recently defected to the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
Recall that Tribune Online reports on Monday that 27 lawmakers loyal to the former governor of the state and current FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, dumped the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the APC in the state.
This is coming on the heels of the ongoing political crisis between the incumbent governor, Sim Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike.
But the four-member Assembly, led by factional Speaker, Edison Ehie, loyal to the state governor, on Wednesday, said the decision to declare the seats vacant was in line with Section 109 (1) (g) and 2 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended.
The Speaker, who read the names of the lawmakers affected, however, called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to conduct a fresh election within the time frame provided by law.
“Distinguished colleagues, the House will duly inform the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of the vacancies in the Rivers State House of Assembly and indeed, to conduct a fresh election to fill the above vacancies,” Ehie declared.
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On Wednesday, Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, arrived at the alternative venue of the State House of Assembly to present the state’s 2024 budget estimates.
This move occurs amidst the ongoing crisis within the State House of Assembly.
The budget presentation session is under the direction of the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Edison Ehie. It is noteworthy that during an emergency meeting on Monday, the State Executive Council (SEC) approved the sum of N800 billion for the 2024 budget.
Recall that 27 Rivers lawmakers who are against the Governor had defected from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC. The 27 lawmakers led by factional Speaker Martins Amaewhule, are backing the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, who has been in a supremacy tussle with Governor Fubara. They seek to control the Assembly leadership against the wish of the Governor and the Assembly leadership led by Ehie which he backs.
He tagged the budget “The ‘BUDGET OF RENEWED HOPE, CONSOLIDATION AND CONTINUITY’.
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'Come back and serve your people' - President Tinubu begs Nigerian doctors abroad to return home
AdminPresident Bola Tinubu has appealed to Nigerian medical practitioners in the diaspora to return to the country to serve Nigerians and to contribute their quota to the development of Nigeria's medical sector and also to serve Nigerians.
The President made the call at the unveiling of Nigeria’s Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative at the State House, Abuja on Tuesday, December 12.
Describing health as a fundamental human right, President Tinubu announced plans for a comprehensive revamp of physical infrastructure, and equipment and the re-training of frontline health workers starting in 2024.
The President boasted that Nigeria remained a rallying point for the best minds in the medical profession, prompting his administration to allocate a substantial sum for the sector in the 2024 budget currently before the National Assembly. He went on to beg Nigerian medical practitioners in the diaspora to return home to serve their people.
“We encourage those Nigerian health professionals in the Diaspora, just like Professor Ali Pate and Tunji Alausa have done, to sacrifice their time to come back home and serve their people. Consider your contributions here at home, as we say, ‘Charity begins at home’.
For the developed countries who benefited from amazing talents of Nigerian health workers, we’ll really encourage them to consider how to support the expansion of training facilities in Nigeria to replace those that they have recruited from here. You should also look at the short and long-term opportunities that we offer.''
Yes, we have a vibrant, well-educated society, but we need Nigeria to rise on one side with climate change and drop the health system to decay. We will rise.”
Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State is set to present the 2024 budget estimates to the Edison Ehie faction of the House of Assembly.
Naija News learned that the budget presentation will take place Wednesday morning at the Government House in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
Before the exercise, the Ehie faction of the House of Assembly moved its sittings to a new complex within the Government House provided by the state governor.
In its first sitting, the four lawmakers elected Hon. Adolphus T. Orubienimigha as the new majority leader of the assembly and are already debating bills in Rivers people’s interest.
The budget presentation usually takes place inside the hallowed chamber of the House of Assembly, but that would not happen due to the ongoing demolition of the assembly complex located at Moscow Road, Port Harcourt.
According to Channels Television, the state government carried out the demolition and the exercise was said to be executed for renovation purposes.
The demolition began just as the factional Speaker, Edison Ehie, led other lawmakers loyal to the state governor to hold a sitting at the complex.
The factional Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Edison Ehie, has revealed why the assembly complex was demolished on Wednesday morning.
Naija News reports that the State House of Assembly Complex located at Moscow Road, Port Harcourt was wrecked down by about ten bulldozers that were driven into the premises this morning.
The development is happening amid the lingering political crisis in Rivers State.
This news platform understands that Ehie led other lawmakers loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara to hold a sitting early on Wednesday before the demolition began.
The PUNCH quoted Ehie to have mentioned during the session that the complex was due for repairs following the explosion that rocked the building on October 30, 2023, saying the governor would provide an alternative place for them to sit in the meantime.
The demolition is being done under tight security.
Lawmakers led by the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Edison Ehie, have moved their sittings to a new complex within the Government House, Port Harcourt.
According to Vanguard, Ehie, while the House of Assembly in the state is being demolished, was seen making his way, alongside other lawmakers, into the Rivers State Government House.
Naija News understands that the meeting comes following the demolition work on the Assembly building on Moscow Road, Port Harcourt.
Recall that a State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, on Tuesday, ordered that Edison remain the Speaker of the Assembly until the matter before this court is dispensed.
It was noted that the state Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, on Wednesday gave the directive of relocating the sittings to a new place he provided.
The lawmakers in its first sitting elected Hon. Adolphus T. Orubienimigha as the new majority leader of the assembly.
As of the time of this report, the state House of Assembly, led by the legally recognized speaker and government of Rivers State, Edison, and other members, are already sitting and debating bills in the interest of Rivers people.
As Akeredolu Returns To Germany Over Ailing Health
The Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, is set to take over the governorship seat as Governor Rotimi Akeredolu returns to Germany over his worsening health condition.
The development comes as the Ondo State Assembly is yet to receive an official handover letter from Governor Akeredolu, who is billed to commence his medical leave on Wednesday December 13 (today).
Naija News had earlier reported that Akeredolu will commence another medical leave on Wednesday as a follow-up to his medical treatment.
Governor Akeredolu, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Richard Olatunde, on Tuesday, communicated the commencement of another medical leave and power transfer to his deputy in line with constitutional provisions. In his absence, the State Deputy Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, will assume responsibilities as acting Governor.
Recall that in November, the speaker of the state assembly Olamide Oladiji, alongside leaders of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), met with President Bola Tinubu over the leadership tussle in the state.
Oladiji revealed that the deputy governor was required to write an undated resignation letter before taking office and that the meeting decided to end all impeachment procedures and legal cases emanating from the party’s power play.
However, the resolutions had not been carried out since the feuding parties refused to withdraw their court cases.
Despite promising to transmit a formal handover letter to the State Assembly officially, Punch Newspaper reports that as of Tuesday evening, the Assembly, which held a closed-door session on Tuesday, had yet to receive any letter from Akeredolu.
A source revealed that the Assembly might be forced to adopt the doctrine of necessity if they do not get the letter from Akeredolu.
The unnamed source at the State Assembly was quoted by Punch Newspaper to have said “The President, during the meeting held on Monday, directed that the House should get the letter transferring power to Aiyedatiwa, if they couldn’t get the letter from the governor; the House should adopt the Doctrine of Necessity.
“They (the lawmakers) deliberated on the matter of the presidential directive, but I am sure the House will come out with something tomorrow (Wednesday). But as I am talking to you, the governor’s letter has not reached the Assembly.”
The political crises Rivers State took a new turn on Wednesday with the rollout of bulldozers for the demolition of the House of Assembly by the State Government.
Reports indicated that over 10 bulldozers and other heavy-duty equipment were rolled out for the demolition of the House of Assembly complex on Moscow Road, Port Harcourt City Local Government Area as early as 5 a.m. on Wednesday.
The demolition of the complex began at about 7:30 a.m. and was still ongoing as at the time of writing this report.
Sources in the state claimed that the demolition of the Assembly Complex was being undertaken by the state government.
This was coming some weeks after the hallowed chambers of the state assembly was burned down by unknown political thugs.
It should be recalled that the legislative arm of the state has been involved in a serious crisis following the move by some lawmakers to impeach the sitting governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara.
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The Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun has deployed Adegoke Fayoade as the new Commissioner of Police in Lagos State.
This is according to a Tuesday tweet by Force spokesman Muyiwa Adejobi.
“IGP deploys CP Adegoke Fayoade to Lagos Command. Lagos has a new commissioner of Police. Congrats to my boss, Adegoke Fayoade,” he wrote on his X platform.
He will be taking over from Idowu Owohunwa. The latter has been promoted to the rank of Assistant Inspector-General of Police, in charge of the Federal Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Alagbon Ikoyi, Lagos.
Until Fayoade’s recent deployment, he was in charge of Armament at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.
The Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu says the state recorded zero bank robbery in four years, the longest period over the past 20 years.
Sanwo-Olu said this on Tuesday at the 17th Town Hall Meeting on security organised by the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), linking the development to the continuous review of the State’s security architecture and surveillance measures, according to a statement by his chief press secretary Gboyega Akosile.
“Celebrating a milestone in security as Lagos achieves four consecutive years of zero bank robberies, marking a significant improvement in safety across the state.
“Our relentless efforts in enhancing security have yielded results. At the 17th Town Hall meeting on security, we discussed the progress made and strategies to further fortify safety in Lagos State,” the governor tweeted.
He assured of his government’s commitment to boosting security measures in the coming year.
“I am proud to announce plans to boost security measures in 2024. I spearheaded the LSSTF donation drive, raising N2bn in voluntary contributions. I am grateful for Mr. Femi Otedola’s pledge of N1bn and other generous donations,” he said.
“We are strengthening LNSC for enhanced intelligence gathering and restructuring the Emergency Call Centre for better reporting. We’re also providing 300 new patrol vehicles to support security agencies, a testament to our commitment to a safer Lagos.”
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LAGOS RECORDS ZERO BANK ROBBERY FOUR YEARS IN A ROW
…Sanwo-Olu: ‘Our security approach has improved safety’
…Governor set to deliver 300 patrol vehicles to police, others
…Raises N2 billion private donations for security
Bank robbery appears to be a bygone incident in Lagos going by the new record released by the State’s Security Trust Fund.
For the fourth consecutive year, Lagos recorded no incident of armed robbery assault against any financial institution in the State — the longest period over the last two decades.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu linked the improvement to the continuous review of the State’s security architecture and the consistent surveillance put in place to nip organised crimes in the bud.
Sanwo-Olu, on Tuesday, shared this progress at the 17th Town Hall Meeting on security organised by the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), where stakeholders in the security circle, citizens and private sector donors met to evaluate issues relating to safety in Lagos between October 2022 and September 2023.
The event was held at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island.
Lagos, however, recorded 189 cases of residential robberies under the year in review, 172 of which were successfully foiled by security operatives and 257 suspects arrested.
The Governor praised the police and sister agencies for their collaborative efforts towards combating crimes in the city, saying the State had built a stabilised security landscape compared to other parts of the country. He, however, said more challenges lied ahead to overcome.
He pointed out that the State, through LSSTF, had consistently funded operations of security agencies across communities to ensure quick response to threats and crimes, noting that the State Government had provided operational vehicles and equipment towards enhancing the capacity of security operatives.
The intervention, Sanwo-Olu said, had raised the frequency of crime-busting responses, which, he added, resulted in the unprecedented record of progress in the annal of policing in the State.
He said: “We convene here today to discuss and evaluate the trajectory of our collective effort to bolster security in Lagos. Our discussion centres around the convergence of security strategies, which is an integral component of our THEMES+ agenda. Our administration recognises security as a multifaceted challenge and we promise to continue to pursue policies and actions that will foster the well-being of all Lagosians, while we keep faith with our pledge to building a secure, and inclusive community.
“LSSTF, fueled by voluntary donations, has significantly strengthened our security architecture, providing essential vehicles and equipment. While challenges still persist, our State’s security landscape is notably more stable than many other parts of the country. We have equipped and strengthened cooperation among various safety and security agencies; our collaboration with armed security agencies through the Lagos State Security Council remains crucial in acknowledging the sacrifices made by officers and men to ensure our safety.”
Sanwo-Olu pledged that 2024 would kick off with new security measures, disclosing that his administration would be raising the fleet of patrol vehicles for security agencies by 300 units. This, he said, will be done in collaboration with local government authorities.
The Governor said Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC) Agency had been repositioned to gather actionable intelligence to complement efforts by the security agencies, adding that the State’s Emergency Call Centre was undergoing operational restructuring for enhanced intelligence reporting.
“To address critical needs, the State Government, in collaboration with local authorities, will provide 300 patrol vehicles through the LSSTF at the beginning of next year. We have repositioned the neighbourhood safety agency to gather actionable intelligence to support security responses,” Sanwo-Olu said.
The Governor personally led the donation drive to LSSTF, raising N2 billion voluntary contributions to the trust fund at the event.
Oil mogul and businessman, Mr. Femi Otedola, pledged donation of N1 billion to the Fund, just as other donors turned out large donations to the cause.
Giving the report of crime situation in Lagos, Acting Commissioner of Police, Waheed Ayilara, a Deputy Commissioner of Police, said 103 firearms, 324 assorted ammunition and 279 dangerous weapons were were recovered during the year.
He said 158 cases of murder were recorded, with the incidents resulting in the death of 163 victims. Also, 18 kidnapping suspects were arrested in connection with eight incidents.
The police boss also raised the alarm on the rising cases of domestic violence and abuse, noting that 256 case of gender related violence were recorded with 333 suspects in custody.
LSSTF Executive Secretary, Dr. AbdurRazaq Balogun, said Lagos State Police Command only received nine patrol vehicles from the Federal Government within two years, stressing that the Fund used donations it received in the last 10 months to bridge the equipment shortfall within federally controlled security agencies operating in Lagos.
Lagos, Balogun said, remained the only State with 28 functioning bullet-proof vehicles, with three vehicles’ armored features being replaced every five years.
He said: “The Fund received a total of N318.75 million in cash donations and two vehicles in 2023. We continue to thank our donors as their partnership is far-reaching and critical to the success of these security activities.”
LSSTF BOT Chairman, Mr. Kehinde Durosinmi-Etti, said although economic situation in the country had affected donations to the Fund, the agency surpassed its revenue target by 94 per cent.
“The unstable economic climate largely influenced by increasing foreign exchange rates has been a major challenge to fundraising. This makes the donation drive even more pertinent for us especially, as there is no alternative to collective funding model given, the indication that the Government cannot do it alone,” Durosinmi-Etti said.
SIGNED
GBOYEGA AKOSILE
CHIEF PRESS SECRETARY
12 DECEMBER 2023
The Minister of Solid Mineral, Dele Alake, has blamed unnamed ‘Powerful Nigerians’ for the illegal mining activities and acts of terrorism going on in different parts of the country.
Alake made the allegation on Tuesday when he led a delegation of top officials of the ministry to defend the 2024, budget estimates before the House Committee on Solid Minerals at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja.
He added that the banditry ongoing in the land may have a foreign component but noted that the major sponsors are Nigerians yet to be identified.
“Nigerians are those powerful people behind them (illegal miners); we are identifying them with both kinetic and non-kinetic means. The insecurity in the mining areas is sponsored by illegal mines and these are powerful individuals in the society who are Nigerians,” he said.
He added that for mining to generate sufficient revenue, there was a need to have a formal structure that the multinational could deal with, just like the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Ltd.
He, however, said that the approach of the ministry under his leadership would be different from NNPCL, adding that the structure being proposed for Nigeria Mining Cooperation would be largely private sector-driven.
He added that “Nigeria will also have its equity, adding that this would mean that no government after could destabilize the structure.
Alake put the conservative worth of minerals deposited in the country at over $700bn dollars, adding that Nigeria was yet to tap commercially into some of its solid minerals demanded globally owing to institutional bottlenecks.
He urged the committee to support the process, adding that this would help change mining in the country.
He also said that the host communities where mining activities take place across the country would be engaged to forestall possible breakdown of laws and orders.
He pleaded with the committee to consider the amount budgeted for the ministry in the 2024 budget proposal.
“What we have is N24bn and this is a non-starter. For this Ministry to contribute at least 50 per cent of the nation’s GDP, we need the sum of N250bn to take care of exploration. If we are given that amount of money, I can tell you that what the ministry will contribute will outweigh other ministries, including what we are deriving from oil.
“We cannot leave exploration in the hands of the private sector. If we do that, they will keep part of the date for pecuniary purposes.
“We can return trillions to the coffers of this country as revenue if we are given such a budget as proposed,” he added.
According to him, the nation has over 44 minerals in high demand with global demand.
The chairman of the committee, Gaza Gbefwi described the solid minerals sector as the last hope in the nation’s quest for the diversification of the economy.
Describing the budget estimates for the ministry as grossly inadequate, the lawmaker pledged the readiness of the committee to work assiduously to assist in drawing more funding to facilitate the realization of Alake’s 7-point agenda.
The Federal Government has disclosed its plans to revamp and restructure the Transmission Company of Nigeria in line with the Electricity Act 2023 and the industry demands.
The Minister of Power, Mr Adebayo Adelabu, made the disclosure on Tuesday in Abuja at the Ministerial Retreat on the Integrated National Electricity Policy and Strategic Implementation Plan. The retreat had the theme, ‘Navigating and aligning on the path to enhanced electricity reliability’.
Adelabu stated, “It is time to restructure the TCN into two entities: the Independent System Operator (ISO) and the Transmission Service Provider (TSP). This restructuring must synchronise with the evolving landscape of state electricity markets, addressing calls for the decentralisation of the national grid into regional grids interconnected by a new higher voltage national or super grid.
“Essentially, we must ask whether the government should directly provide electricity nationwide or rather facilitate its provision by drawing comparisons with China’s centralised model and the United State’s diverse access models.
“Understanding how to handle subsidies, cross-subsidies, and aligning the Rural Electrification Agency’s role with emerging state markets are vital questions that demand stakeholder scrutiny for effective resolution.”
Adelabu said the Federal Government must work with state and local governments to increase the coverage and distribution of electricity across the country.
He noted, “Certain observable aspects within our sector require attention. These include the poor track record in contracting, contract management, and adherence to contractual obligations, in some cases, even by design.
“With impartial examination, it is evident that these identified factors erode confidence in the viability of the sector and pose fundamental challenges of inadequate capitalisation and limited access to funds for the diverse players along the energy value chain, from gas supply to electricity distribution.”
The minister said a major issue in the power sector was the pricing of gas utilised by Generation Companies (GenCos) in dollars describing it as a huge volatile variable that affects the pricing of electricity for end users.
He advised, “A preferable option was to ensure that gas utilised by the GenCos is traded in naira so as to manage the foreign currency-related inflationary trends that challenge the application of the Multi-Year Tariff Order (MYTO) methodology.
“We must find ways and means to pursue domestic gas policies and incentivise stakeholders for the supply of gas for inland use in electricity supply; other industrial activities and conversion to compressed natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas for transportation and domestic uses respectively.”
According to him, one of the major deliverables from the policymaking process is a viable method for establishing a sustainable capital investment programme around gas processing and transportation infrastructure.
“We must be forthright and passionate about our industry while remaining objective in finding the necessary solutions to propel us forward, establishing a credible policy framework for reliable electricity in the country,” he added.