Senate Rejects 2 LEC Nominees

By Alex Yomah
The Senate Statutory Committee on Land, Mines, Natural Resources and Environment (LMNRE), has rejected Cllr. Charles H. Gibson, Chairman designate, Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC), and Atty. An Togar Nimely, Chairman designate for the Liberia Electricity Regulatory Commission( LERC).
The plenary session of the Liberian Senate’ decision to reject the two Presidential nominees was triggered by recommendations from the above mentioned committee headed by Lofa County Senator, George T. Tenbgeh who read in plenary session yesterday.
The two nominees’ rejections followed a public confirmation hearing conducted by the Senate Statutory Committee on Energy on Monday, February 3, 2020.
The Committee claimed that it thoroughly examined the nominee cordial interaction which existed between the nominee and members of the Committee through questions and answers. Additionally, questions were posed to him based primarily on issues of institutional knowledge, managerial experience, commitment and interpersonal relationship with other senior members of his entity as well as his will to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of his preferred duty and among others.
“It is against this backdrop that the committee deems it necessary to recommend to the plenary of the Senate to decline the request for the confirmation of Atty. Toga Nimely as Chairman the LERC,” the committee recommended.
The committee also informed that it did thorough examination to the nominee in person of Cllr. Charles Gibson through his presentation, Curriculum Vitae, and other credentials; and in its wisdom further examined international efforts to increase efficiency and opportunities to advance energy efficiency in Liberia, while in committee room carefully scrutinized the nominee and unanimously did not see the nominee eligible and qualified to serve as Chairman of LEC.
“It is against this backdrop that the committee deems it necessary to recommend to the plenary session of the Senate to decline the request for the confirmation of Cllr. Charles H. Gibson as Chairman for LEC,” the committee stated.
Although the committee failed to provide reasons for the nominees’ rejections but during the public hearing, Senators raised the issues of media reports alleging that the United States government has rejected the nomination of Atty. Anthony Togar Nimely. The report claimed that US government will withhold salary support to the energy sector if he is confirmed as Cairman of the LERC.
Cllr. Gibson’s integrity was questioned by senators on why he had to leave a four- year tenure job at the Liberia Oil Company and amongst other issues that led him to lose his ministerial post when he was nominated by President George Weah.
The Chairman designate, LERC Atty. Togar Nimely refuted media reports alleging that American government has rejected his nomination to the energy sector.
The rejected LERC’S Boss described the media report which he said came on the day of his confirmation as a mere propaganda being concocted by folks within the sector, who he claimed have hidden agenda against the new energy law due to his unabated stance not to circumvent the law craving to outsource the energy sector aimed at providing affordable and sustainable electricity to everyone to suit a particular group of people regardless of status and interest.
“I have no problem with the United States of America government. I absolutely have no problem with the US and there has been no complaint against me that ever came to my knowledge; trust me, any information of that is a mere propaganda,” Atty. Nimely clarified media report.
“I have been at the LERC since 2018 and not a day had MCC called me on any issue; not one day had the NEAL called me on any issues; we meet regularly with Monie Captan, head of the Millennium Corporation Compact (MCC) and all heads of the international energy sector. Whoever we met, we discussed developmental issues and not a letter of complaint had ever reached me or CC me on any issue,” he said.
According to him, there are folks who he did not name that are fronting against outsourcing of the energy sector as captured in the new energy law and because of his stance, they wrote the President because they did not CC me and perhaps did not see any reason relative to what is contained in the communication, they are the ones using the media to spew negative things against him but as far he is concerned, absolutely he has no problem with the America Government through the Millennium Corporation Compact.
Nimely craves the Senate to be confirmed so as to implement the President’s policy which he said is intended to outsource the LEC.
Nimely said outsourcing the energy sector is the President’s heartbeat, noting that most Liberians are against what he called ‘small light today, big light tomorrow’.
He said outsourcing the sector is law that must be implemented and it is the only way the issues of LEC hurdles which has ignited many protests to stop. Adding; “The President to see every Liberian regardless where he/she lives must have electricity”
Meanwhile, the Liberian Senate through its Statutory Committee confirmed Mr. Michael P. Korkpor as Commissioner of the LERC.
Mr. Korkpor was the only person confirmed by the Senate –following public hearing conducted by the Senate’s Energy committee on Monday.
It is not also clear what triggered his non- confirmation but our reporter who witnessed the hearing confirmed that he saw Mr. Korkpor and two members of the committee who he said, were his mentors. He named both Bomi County Senator, Morris Saytumah and Conmany Wesseh and River Gee County respectively.