The current erratic electricity supply being experienced in some parts of the country has been linked to the poor attitude to work by officials of the successor companies of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), THISDAY has learnt.

It was gathered that the PHCN workers have resorted to what electricity consumers called “business-as-usual,” following the resignation of Prof. Bart Nnaji as Minister for Power.

THISDAY’s investigation revealed that since Nnaji’s resignation, electricity supply has dropped in some towns and major cities, including Lagos, Enugu, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Kaduna.

To underscore government’s seriousness to pursue the power reform agenda robustly, Nnaji was known to have removed top level managers of the generation, transmission and distribution companies who failed to perform and consistently missed their service level agreement targets.

Most of the chief executive officers (CEOs) of the successor companies, who were contacted by THISDAY over the current erratic supply declined to comment on the matter due to what they described as “the current atmosphere of uncertainty caused by the resignation of the former minister”.

Other CEOs, who spoke on condition of anonymity, referred THISDAY to the National Control Centre (NCC) at Oshogbo in Osun Sate, for clarifications.

A source at NCC however blamed the fluctuation in supply on the inability of the distribution companies to respond quickly to faults on the lines.

He acknowledged that there was drop in daily allocations to the distribution companies since the resignation of the former minister but added that there could also be faults in some of the lines that might have affected the ability of the companies to deliver power to their customers.

He however declined to disclose the quantity of power being generated in the country.

“One thing is to send power from the generating companies to the grid via the control centre and another thing is allocating this power and sending it to the discos. But whether this power is delivered to the customers is a different ball game. There are losses between the Gencos and the national grid. There are also losses between the national grid and the discos. Of course, there are also losses between the distribution companies and the customers. If supply to the customers has dropped substantially, it means that the discos are not doing their jobs,” he said.

Nnaji had instilled discipline and accountability among PHCN top management when he was the presiding minister.

Barely one month after he assumed duties in July 2011, Nnaji sacked four CEOs of Distribution companies across the country.

He said the move was to strengthen the capacity of distribution companies nationwide to enable them serve the public better.

Also in April this year, he ordered the removal of the Managing Director of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN); the market operator and the executive director, Human Resources of PHCN, for their failure to prevent what he described as “controllable impediment” to supply power to Nigerians.

dadde: i think nnaji had to chose between Nigeria and his personal goal.he definitely opted his personal goals.

Obiagu1:

It still does not make sense that you have a construction company and then became a governor. Because of that, your construction company is barred from bidding for contracts else you have to resign your position as a governor before your company becomes eligible again. If you are in this position, what would you do? Continue being the governor (if your intention is not to steal money) or resign and promote your company that is your life struggle?

Obiagu1:

It still does not make sense that you have a construction company and then became a governor. Because of that, your construction company is barred from bidding for contracts else you have to resign your position as a governor before your company becomes eligible again. If you are in this position, what would you do? Continue being the governor (if your intention is not to steal money) or resign and promote your company that is your life struggle?

Mekusnwa:
Brother, you have a point. But our laws think otherwise. The law governing privatisation in Nigeria precludes any member of the National Council on Priatisation or BPE from buying shares in the companies undergoing privatisation. It is this law that Nnaji breached. Besides, it is revealed that the former minister also presented a memo to FEC for the approval of 6 billion Naira for the refurbishment of the very plants where his companies bidded.

It is a classical case of conflict of interest capable of sabotaging the entire process. Jonathan had assured Foriegn investors willing to partake in the privatisation process of a credible process.
The Minister had to resign in order to salvage the reforms and restore credibility to the entire process.
I miss him though.

Obiagu1:

I really do not care much about what the law says on the issue because it's not a very good law.
Anyway, it gives Nigeria and Nigerians a feel-good moment when Nigeria is sold to foreigners in the name of making good money from everything privatized.

Obiagu1:

I really do not care much about what the law says on the issue because it's not a very good law.
Anyway, it gives Nigeria and Nigerians a feel-good moment when Nigeria is sold to foreigners in the name of making good money from everything privatized.

Mekusnwa:
Brother, you have a point. But our laws think otherwise. The law governing privatisation in Nigeria precludes any member of the National Council on Priatisation or BPE from buying shares in the companies undergoing privatisation. It is this law that Nnaji breached. Besides, it is revealed that the former minister also presented a memo to FEC for the approval of 6 billion Naira for the refurbishment of the very plants where his companies bidded.

It is a classical case of conflict of interest capable of sabotaging the entire process. Jonathan had assured Foriegn investors willing to partake in the privatisation process of a credible process.
The Minister had to resign in order to salvage the reforms and restore credibility to the entire process.
I miss him though.

Obiagu1:

It still does not make sense that you have a construction company and then became a governor. Because of that, your construction company is barred from bidding for contracts else you have to resign your position as a governor before your company becomes eligible again. If you are in this position, what would you do? Continue being the governor (if your intention is not to steal money) or resign and promote your company that is your life struggle?