Senator Yunus Akintunde speaks on the Senate floor, calling for an end to public funding of electricity assets handed over to private firms.
The Senate has called on the Federal Government to review its handling of the power sector, warning against what it described as the continued enrichment of private electricity distribution companies (DisCos) using public resources.
Speaking during plenary on Thursday, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment, Senator Yunus Akintunde (APC – Oyo Central), criticised the practice of government-funded transformers being handed over to DisCos, who then claim ownership of the assets.
“When you buy a transformer with government funds and hand it over to a community, the DisCos demand payment for installation,” Akintunde said.
“But the moment it is energised, it becomes their asset. That’s how public money ends up enriching private monopolies.”
Describing the trend as “unsustainable and unjust,” the lawmaker called for a restructured subsidy system that benefits ordinary Nigerians rather than corporate entities.
“Electricity subsidies are not a Nigerian anomaly—they’re a global necessity,” he added.
“Even in advanced economies like the UK, energy is subsidised. We shouldn’t abandon the idea simply because of past abuses. Subsidies, when properly managed, drive growth and shield the poor.”
Akintunde also raised concerns over a “structural imbalance” in the power sector, pointing out that while electricity generation and distribution have been privatised, the government still controls the transmission network, which he described as outdated and inefficient.
“Most transmission lines and substations are ageing and inadequate. That’s one of the biggest bottlenecks to reliable supply across the country,” he said.
The senator stressed that the solution to Nigeria’s power crisis goes beyond providing transformers.
“This is not just about transformers—it’s about fixing a broken system. We must stop using public funds to empower private interests,” he warned.
“Instead, we must empower Nigerians with affordable and reliable electricity.”
The call adds to growing pressure on the government to carry out deeper reforms in the power sector amid rising costs, frequent outages, and mounting public frustration.
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