Tegbe Inaugurates REA Board, Charges Members to Prioritise People-Centred Leadership

 Tegbe Inaugurates REA Board, Charges Members to Prioritise People-Centred Leadership

ABUJA — Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, has inaugurated the newly constituted Governing Board of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), urging members to make the welfare, livelihoods and economic opportunities of ordinary Nigerians the centre of their decisions.

The inauguration, held in Abuja, was attended by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Power, the newly appointed Board Chairman, former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of REA, members of the Board and other senior officials of the Ministry.

Tegbe said the constitution of the new Board was in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to strengthening governance, accountability and institutional effectiveness across public institutions.

He described REA as a critical institution in the Federal Government’s efforts to expand economic opportunities and improve the quality of life of Nigerians, stressing that rural electrification goes beyond providing electricity to underserved communities.

According to him, every mini-grid, solar home system, electrified market, school, healthcare facility and farm represents an investment in human capital, productivity and economic inclusion.

The Minister highlighted REA’s existing initiatives, including the Energizing Education Programme, Energizing Economies Programme, Energizing Agriculture Programme and the Africa Mini-Grids Programme, as practical examples of the agency’s role in driving inclusive development.

He noted that the newly constituted Board, established pursuant to Section 130 of the Electricity Act, was assuming office at a critical period in the development of Nigeria’s power sector.

Tegbe charged the Board members to provide strategic direction and effective oversight while allowing the agency’s management to maintain the operational flexibility required to deliver its mandate.

He clarified that the Board’s responsibility was primarily non-executive, covering policy direction, strategic oversight and performance review, while the management would remain responsible for the day-to-day administration and execution of REA’s programmes.

The Minister explained that the Board would meet quarterly to assess the agency’s performance, while Management would retain operational latitude between meetings, subject to appropriate accountability mechanisms.

Tegbe commended Fayose for his experience as a former Governor of Ekiti State and expressed confidence in the capacity of the newly inaugurated Board to contribute meaningfully to the Federal Government’s efforts to improve electricity access nationwide.

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

Responding on behalf of the Board, Chairman Ayodele Fayose said President Tinubu’s decision to appoint Tegbe as Minister of Power demonstrated the administration’s seriousness about finding a lasting solution to Nigeria’s longstanding electricity challenges.

Fayose described Tegbe as a technocrat with strong technical expertise and managerial competence, adding that his appointment had already begun to create a positive turning point in the power sector.

He said the REA Board was proud to work with the Minister and pledged the commitment of its members to supporting efforts to transform Nigeria’s electricity sector.

The inauguration marks the commencement of the new Board’s mandate as it takes on the responsibility of providing strategic leadership and oversight for REA’s rural and underserved electrification programmes across the country.