Yar’Adua upset with ministers on NITEL, electricity tariff mix-up

PRESIDENT Umaru Yar’Adua is unhappy with some of his ministers over recent policy decisions which he considers a misrepresentation of his approvals, Vanguard can now reveal.
Presidency sources said he was unhappy that the Ministers of Information and Communications, Mr John Odey and Hajia Fatimah Ibrahim of Power respectively did not convey his exact position to the public on NITEL/Mtel and the electricity tariffs.

While Mr Odey announced that the sale of NITEL/Mtel to Transcorp had been reversed, Hajia Ibrahim said there would be an increase in electricity tariff from next month.Vanguard sources said those two statements were unauthorised.According to sources, there was a mutual agreement between government and Transcorp on the modalities for the disengagement of the company from NITEL/Mtel.On the reported increase in electricity tariff, the president’s anger stemmed from the fact that no such decision was taken as it would portray the government as being insensitive to the sufferings of Nigerians.Mrs Ibrahim herself denied yesterday that an increase in electricity tariff was on the card.However, the president has reportedly directed the two ministers to address a press conference to present the true position to Nigerians.

The President’s trip to Maiduguri yesterday was reportedly delayed following media reports on the increase in electricity tariff and the on-going controversy over the sale of NITEL/Mtel to Transcorp."He was upset after reading the report on the increase and has asked the Minister to retract her statement.

Nigerians can be rest assured that no kobo will be added until they begin to enjoy stable electricity. And the President is working round the clock to ensure that."On the controversy over the revocation of the sale of NITEL/Mtel to Transcorp, the President said he could not understand how what he approved was distorted in the media and directed Mr. Odey to hold a meeting and joint press conference with the Transcorp chairman, Prof. Okereke-Onyiuke. The President’s approval tallied with what Transcorp had agreed with the Federal Government. The

President does not understand where ‘revocation’ came from. "This President believes that the best way to properly address the nation’s economic challenges is through the Private-Public Partnership (PPP). So, how can he take a decision that injures private investment? What the President approved on NITEL/Mtel was a decision already agreed between the Federal Government and Transcorp to rescue the telecommunications company that is very strategic for the nation.

"The President would soon address the nation on his efforts to redirect the economy. And with that, Nigerians would appreciate what he has spent the last eight months doing. He has clear direction on the power sector and would come out clearly with targets and timelines that will be met on power generation, transmission and distribution. The emergency in the sector would also be declared soon and it would be far-reaching, not the type of thing most Nigerians envisage."What the President is coming out with is tied to the future of the country and not just the cosmetic approach or mere pronouncement.

Yes, it is true the President promised he would declare emergency within three months of his administration. However, a source close to Mr Odey said last night that the Minister had not received any query from the president on the NITEL.Mtel controversy.


http://www.vanguardngr.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3065&Itemid=42

If the president's messages were mis-represented by these ministers, they should be fired. Today!

funloving:

Yar’Adua upset with ministers on NITEL, electricity tariff mix-up

PRESIDENT Umaru Yar’Adua is unhappy with some of his ministers over recent policy decisions which he considers a misrepresentation of his approvals, Vanguard can now reveal.
Presidency sources said he was unhappy that the Ministers of Information and Communications, Mr John Odey and Hajia Fatimah Ibrahim of Power respectively did not convey his exact position to the public on NITEL/Mtel and the electricity tariffs.

While Mr Odey announced that the sale of NITEL/Mtel to Transcorp had been reversed, Hajia Ibrahim said there would be an increase in electricity tariff from next month.Vanguard sources said those two statements were unauthorised.According to sources, there was a mutual agreement between government and Transcorp on the modalities for the disengagement of the company from NITEL/Mtel.On the reported increase in electricity tariff, the president’s anger stemmed from the fact that no such decision was taken as it would portray the government as being insensitive to the sufferings of Nigerians.Mrs Ibrahim herself denied yesterday that an increase in electricity tariff was on the card.However, the president has reportedly directed the two ministers to address a press conference to present the true position to Nigerians.

The President’s trip to Maiduguri yesterday was reportedly delayed following media reports on the increase in electricity tariff and the on-going controversy over the sale of NITEL/Mtel to Transcorp."He was upset after reading the report on the increase and has asked the Minister to retract her statement.

Nigerians can be rest assured that no kobo will be added until they begin to enjoy stable electricity. And the President is working round the clock to ensure that."On the controversy over the revocation of the sale of NITEL/Mtel to Transcorp, the President said he could not understand how what he approved was distorted in the media and directed Mr. Odey to hold a meeting and joint press conference with the Transcorp chairman, Prof. Okereke-Onyiuke. The President’s approval tallied with what Transcorp had agreed with the Federal Government. The

President does not understand where ‘revocation’ came from. "This President believes that the best way to properly address the nation’s economic challenges is through the Private-Public Partnership (PPP). So, how can he take a decision that injures private investment? What the President approved on NITEL/Mtel was a decision already agreed between the Federal Government and Transcorp to rescue the telecommunications company that is very strategic for the nation.

"The President would soon address the nation on his efforts to redirect the economy. And with that, Nigerians would appreciate what he has spent the last eight months doing. He has clear direction on the power sector and would come out clearly with targets and timelines that will be met on power generation, transmission and distribution. The emergency in the sector would also be declared soon and it would be far-reaching, not the type of thing most Nigerians envisage."What the President is coming out with is tied to the future of the country and not just the cosmetic approach or mere pronouncement.

Yes, it is true the President promised he would declare emergency within three months of his administration. However, a source close to Mr Odey said last night that the Minister had not received any query from the president on the NITEL.Mtel controversy.


http://www.vanguardngr.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3065&Itemid=42

Well, well, well, I was wondering how after all the emergency claims he would vote to have tariffs on electricity increased before even supplying the energy he promised. I believe the president needs to have a meeting with his ministers and make sure they do not make such mistakes again. He is president and so he is to be held responsible for actions such as these that happen under his watch. I say he make his ministers understand that any change in policy of this sort should be approved by him so we know that he is not a weak president.