03 April 2012, Sweetcrude, ABUJA – THE Nigerian Government, Monday, retired three key power sector officials, following the deteriorating power supply situation in the country.
Among those affected are the Chief Executive Officer (CEO, Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Mr. Akinwumi Bada; the Market Operator, Mr. Uzoma Achinanya; and the Executive Director, Human Resources,
Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), Mr. Olusoga Muyiwa.
The Presidency also approved the immediate replacement of the affected officials. They were succeeded by Mr. Olusola Akinniranye, the executive director, TCN and Mr. Evaristus Mogbo, who are now the CEO TCN and Market Operator respectively.
There was, however, no immediate replacement for the Human Resources Director at PHCN.
A statement from the Minister of Power, Prof. Bart Nnaji, after an emergency meeting with chief executive officers of PHCN successor companies in Abuja, said the appointments were made to enable the power sector reform regain momentum.
Continuous reorganisations
He said: “There will be continuous reorganisation of the industry until we achieve efficiency and effectiveness,” urging the new appointees to live up to expectation, as government would no longer tolerate delays in the implementation of the power sector reform.
The meeting with the CEOs of successor companies was attended by the Minister of State (Power), Mr. Darius Ishaku; Chairman, Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Dr. Sam Amadi, and the new Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Power, Dr. (Mrs) Dere Awosika and other directors of the Ministry.
At the meeting, Nnaji was said to have expressed government’s disappointment over the sudden drop in power supply in the past couple of weeks, and the CEOs’ inability to communicate the issues and prepare the general public on the development.
He warned that henceforth, failure to live up to the service agreements they signed on power delivery would be met with sanctions, adding: “We have said it before that you are in charge; you must live up to the responsibility that is given to you or expect to see a reaction for not doing so.”
