NASS removes GenCos, DisCos from exclusive list, as FG opens bids for 4000MW nuclear power plant

Federal Government has opened bids for the construction of a 4000 MW nuclear power plant.

The development comes also as the Senate had on Tuesday, removed the power generation, transmission and distribution from the exclusive legislative list in the ongoing constitutional review exercise.

Director General, Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA), Dr. Yau Idris, disclosed this at the ongoing Nigerian International Energy Summit (NIES) in Abuja.

According to him, the plant would be the largest power plant in Nigeria if the bids are successful and construction is completed.

 “It is wrong to think that Nigeria can’t manage a nuclear power plant.

“There are mechanisms put in place that ensure any country can build a nuclear power plant.

“Nigeria is trying to deliver 4,000MW of electricity through nuclear power. We are trying to construct four units and we are at the bidding stage.

“The Federal Government has been trying to diversify Nigeria’s energy mix since 1977.

“The 4,000 MW plant would boost Nigeria’s present generation capacity to 13,000MW.

“…The regulatory agency has signed agreements with Russia, Pakistan, France and South Korea to build the capacity of its staff in manning the nuclear plants,” said Idris.

Meanwhile the upper legislative chamber passed a bill for an Act to alter the provisions of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to allow states to generate, transmit and distribute electricity in areas covered by the National Grid and for related matters.

The decision also means that the sector has been removed from the exclusive list of the government.

Also, Tuesday, the lawmakers rejected bid by the Federal Governmenmt to move Value Added Tax (VAT) to the exclusive lits to stave off agitations by southern governors seeking to maintain control of the tax over the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

The lawmakers rejected the two provisions during voting on 68 clauses being considered in the ongoing constitutional amendment, on a day full of intrigues.

The proposed Bill on VAT reads: “A Bill for an Act to Alter Part I of the Second Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to include Value Added Tax on the Exclusive Legislative List; and for Related Matters”.

At the House of Representatives, 209 members voted against any movement, thus allowing it to stay on the current legislative list, a shared constitutional provision between the federal and state governments.

The senate also rejected the bill as 44 senators kicked against it while 41 voted in support.

FIRS had on behalf of the Federal Government approached the National Assembly to include VAT collection in the exclusive legislative list.

The FIRS had proposed the insertion of VAT immediately after Stamp Duties under item 58 part II of the 2nd schedule of the 1999 Constitution.