The Niger State House of Assembly has opposed the recent appointment of Mrs. Tomi Somefun as Managing Director of the Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (N-HYPPADEC), describing it as a violation of the Commission’s founding Act. Despite Mrs. Somefun not being from any of the member states of N-HYPPADEC, a requirement outlined in the Commission’s enabling legislation, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu announced her appointment.
During plenary on Tuesday, the legislators expressed deep concern over the breach of legal provisions meant to ensure equitable representation and development for communities impacted by hydroelectric power operations. Hon. Abubakar Gomna, representing Bosso Constituency, raised a motion drawing attention to Section 5 of the N-HYPPADEC Act, which mandates that the Managing Director must be appointed from among member states.
Gomna warned that ignoring such provisions undermines the rule of law and sets a troubling precedent, stating, “If the National Assembly passes a bill that clearly states appointments should be rotational among member states, and the government disregards it, it signals a lack of respect for our laws. This breeds anarchy, not just domestically but also in the eyes of the international community.”
Supporting the motion, Hon. Mohammed Alhaji Haruna of Bida Constituency cautioned that the appointment could erode trust between host communities and the Commission, potentially destabilizing its operations. Haruna stated, “this development is unacceptable and could damage the credibility of N-HYPPADEC among the communities it was created to serve.”
In a unanimous resolution, the House called on Niger State’s federal lawmakers and the state executive to urgently engage the Presidency, urging a reversal of the appointment and demanding that future selections strictly adhere to the provisions of the N-HYPPADEC Act.
The Assembly emphasized that legal compliance is essential to maintaining public trust and ensuring that the Commission fulfills its mandate of addressing the developmental needs of hydroelectric host communities.
