President Goodluck Jonathan, is worried by the deteriorating power situation in the country. Last week, Jonathan approved the retirement of three key functionaries in the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, and its successor companies. The retirement of the officials is part of the effort of the government to implement the reforms of the sector and replace them with others who will improve power supply.

The officers replaced were Akinwumi Bada, an engineer and erstwhile CEO of the Transmission Company of Nigeria; Uzoma Achinanya, former market operator, as well as Olusoga Muyiwa, executive director of Human Resources, PHCN. Consequently, Olusola Akinniranye, an engineer and executive director, Transmission Services Provider at the TCN has moved up to replace Bada as CEO, while Evaristus Mogbo, an engineer, is promoted as market operator to replace Achinanya. No replacement was made for the retired HR Director.

Bart Nnaji, Minister of Power, who broke the news of the retirement last week, at an emergency meeting he held with chief executives of successor companies at Sheraton Hotels and Towers, Abuja, said the appointments were being made to enable the power sector reform regain the momentum. “There will be continuous reorganisation of the industry until we achieve efficiency and effectiveness,” he said.

He charged the two appointees to live up to expectations as government was no longer in the mood to tolerate delays in the implementation of the power sector reform. The meeting with chief executives of successor companies was attended by Darius Ishaku, Minister of State (Power), Sam Amadi, chairman of Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, and Dere Awosika, permanent secretary in the ministry of power, and other directors of the ministry.

Nnaji, who came back at the weekend from an investment tour of Europe and Asia, expressed disappointment with the CEOs of successor companies who failed to communicate the issues and prepare the minds of the general public to the sharp drop in power supply that hit the nation for some weeks now.

He told the chief executives to henceforth expect a decisive response from the government if any of them failed to live up to the service agreements they signed on power delivery.

“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,” he stated.