Tegbe charges new REA board to drive people-centred

The Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, has inaugurated the newly constituted Governing Board of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), charging members to ensure that the agency’s decisions translate into tangible improvements in the lives and livelihoods of Nigerians.

The inauguration ceremony, held in Abuja, was attended by the Permanent Secretary, Chairman of the Board, His Excellency Ayodele Fayose, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the REA, members of the Board and management of the Ministry.

Tegbe said the constitution of the Board was consistent with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s efforts to strengthen governance and accountability across public institutions.

He described the REA as an institution focused on expanding economic opportunity and inclusion, noting that every mini-grid, solar home system and electrified market, school, health centre or farm represents an investment in human capital and economic development.

The Minister cited the REA’s existing programmes, including the Energising Education Programme, Energising Economies Programme, Energising Agriculture Programme and the Africa Mini-Grids Programme, as evidence of the agency’s role in expanding access to electricity and supporting economic activity.

He noted that the Board, constituted pursuant to Section 130 of the Electricity Act, was assuming office at a defining moment for the agency and urged members to provide effective strategic direction and oversight.

Tegbe also clarified the respective responsibilities of the Board and Management, stressing that the Board’s role was to provide strategic direction and oversight, while Management remained responsible for the day-to-day operations of the agency.

He said the Board would meet quarterly to review performance, while Management would retain the necessary operational latitude between meetings, subject to accountability and proper oversight.

The Minister commended Fayose’s record as a former Governor of Ekiti State and welcomed the other members of the newly constituted Board.

He assured the Board of the Ministry’s continued partnership, describing electricity as an instrument of inclusion, opportunity and prosperity.

Responding on behalf of the Board, Fayose said President Tinubu’s decision to appoint Tegbe as Minister of Power demonstrated the seriousness of the administration’s commitment to resolving Nigeria’s power challenges.

He described Tegbe’s appointment as more than a routine government appointment, saying it signalled the administration’s determination to achieve a lasting solution to the country’s electricity problems.

Fayose described Tegbe as a technocrat with strong technical depth and managerial competence, which he said had already contributed to a positive turning point in the power sector.

He affirmed the Board’s readiness to work with the Minister and other stakeholders to support the administration’s efforts to improve Nigeria’s electricity sector.