The Nation Newspaper

Tag: reforms

  • NNPC MD seeks workers’ support for reforms

    NNPC MD seeks workers’ support for reforms

    The Group Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, has implored the management to team up with him to close the skills gap and turn the fortunes of the corporation around.

    Kachikwu made the appeal during the maiden interactive session with the top management of the Corporation at the NNPC Towers Abuja.

    The GMD said that efforts were in top gear to create conducive working environment for members of staff, adding that for the NNPC to transform into a profit centre like its peers in other climes, the morale of the work force must be high.

    Kachikwu also urged the management to provide leadership by example to the workforce while adding that sectionalism, tribalism and any form of non-transparent transactions must be completely stamped out of the NNPC.

    The GMD noted that his administration would ensure that all the refineries of the corporation were run efficiently and profitably to meet the energy needs of the country.

    He said the Corporate Service Unit and all the Strategic Business Units of the Corporation would henceforth be run as profit centres while noting that the days when the Corporation was perceived as a civil service organization instead of a Corporation were over.

     

     

  • NAFDAC union backs management on reforms

    NAFDAC union backs management on reforms

    Members of the Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) chapter, have backed the many reforms being embarked upon by the management of the agency.

    The union, led by its chairman, Comrade Attah Ibrahim, along with Comrade Anzaku Peters, secretary and Comrade Albert Udeme, PRO, while addressing a joint press briefing at the agency’s office in Lagos, yesterday, said they were in support of the reforms, including staff redeployment exercise enforced by the management in recent times.

    Ibrahim recalled that the union had last November embarked on strike to press home their demand for improved welfare among others but regretted that the issues were yet to be adequately addressed.

    The MHWUN boss, who fell short of accusing some of the directors of dereliction of duty, said their actions and inactions were beginning to adversely affect the smooth working of the agency thus far.

    “Our members have been at the receiving end of bad management, especially in the hands of Finance and Accounts and Admin and Human Resources Directorates respectively, which is why we embarked on strike last year demanding the removal of some directors who were constituting a clog in the wheel of fortune. But the management in its wisdom will not hear of that. We were, however, happy that Dr. Paul Orhii-led management decided to wade into the crisis by redeploying the staff in question to another directorate in order to save the agency,” Ibrahim said.

    He said, it was, however, disheartening to note that the Director of Finance and Accounts, Mr. Ademola Mogbojuri, who was affected in the recent redeployment exercise had to resist the move.

    “We had a lot of issues with the Finance and Accounts director in the past but we were happy our pleas were finally being heard but a situation where he is resisting is as if we have some super directors who are above the law,” he stressed.

    “At the union, it is our conviction that the management should not rescind its decision. This is in the best interest of NAFDAC.”

    Mogbojuri was initially redeployed to the Planning Research and Statistics Directorate but following his petition to the Governing Council of NAFDAC, he was subsequently moved to NAFDAC Training Institute in Kaduna.

    Expatiating, Anzuka and Udeme said the alleged resistance by Mogbojuri smacked of insubordination and should not be tolerated by the management, as that may set a bad precedence.

    Citing the Public Service Rule, section 150-151, 2010, Anzuka said: “Under the Civil Service rule, a staff upon the recommendation of the board management can be redeployed top any unit, division, to any part of the country. So, it is therefore an act of impunity for a staff so redeployed to resist such move. Resisting transfer is against civil service rule. This should not be allowed in whatever guise. Nobody should be bigger than the agency.”

  • Ex- commissioner Pitan seeks reforms

    Ex- commissioner Pitan seeks reforms

    Former Lagos State Commissioner for Health  Dr Adeleke Pitan has urged the incoming administration to reform the sector.

    The incoming administrations,  he said, should put the people first in everything.

    Pitan spoke at the annual lecture of the Chartered Institute of Environmental and Public Health Management of Nigeria  (CIEPHMN), in Lagos.

    He said: “If you put the people first, there will be harmony and a guaranteed future for us as a country. The incoming administration should ensure that there is health for all. Also, there will be a basic minimum package, which every Nigerian of about 170 million will partake in. This would be possible through the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).”

    Pitan, who was also education commissioner, spoke about the All Progressives Congress (APC) free health policy, adding that it would be made possible through the instrumentation of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).“It is, therefore, compulsory for everybody to come on board,” he added.

    He continued: “The mechanism is what the incoming administration is working on. This will be brought to bear. The incoming administration will work the talk and make sure that the manifesto is implemented.”

    Director-General/ Chief Executive, CIEPHMN, Prince George Ayoade urged the incoming President-elect Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to strengthen the environment and health ministries in order to actualise the programmes mentioned in his campaign.

    He advised the incoming administration to ensure that existing policies on environment and health are adequately implemented according to international standard.

    “Besides, this would help our policies to be implemented to a globally acceptable standard to the extent that other countries will see us as a role model in terms of environmental perseveration and conservation.

    “Also, we would be seen to reduce all environmental hazards that we have in the country,” he said.

    He advised that qualified personnel should be allowed to handle the environment and health ministry, stressing that the two ministries are interwoven because “health affects environment and the environment affects health”.

  • APCON: Surmounting the challenges of reforms

    APCON: Surmounting the challenges of reforms

    Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) Chairman, Uffot Udeme has resumed duties. It is expected that he will continue with the reform started by his predecessor, Lolu Akinwunmi, reports ADEDEJI ADEMIGBUJI.

    With the inauguration of the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) board penultimate week, much is expected of it in the ongoing reform in the industry which has been gazetted by the Federal Government.

    Its immediate past chairman, Mr. Lolu Akinwunmi, is optimistic that the new council, chaired by SO&U Group Managing Director Mr. Uffot Udeme, would ensure that the fifth advertising code is strictly enforced. The code is to standardise advertising practice in line with best global practices.

    There are fears that the code may be circumvented by some interest groups that are picking issues with foreign shareholding in Nigeria advertising business concerns.

    Those in the reform vanguard believe it will protect professionals from losing their jobs, enhance local content and talent development and prevent over westernisation of creative ideas. But, critics believe it is a protectionist reform that would not grow the industry.

    Expressing his confidence in the new council to sustain the reform, Akinwunmi said: “Even when he (Udeme) was not the chairman, he did. He is a thoroughbred professional and was the president of the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN). He understands what the reform is about and he will be well advised by the council.

    “Built into the council structure are also checks and balances that every chairman must respect. I should know. And at any rate, the reform status is definite, has been gazetted and presented to the President-in-Council in Abuja. But we don’t foresee any challenges with the new chairman and Council.”

     

    Road to reform

    Akinwunmi said the birth of the reform came with a price, noting what he went through while in office. He said: “First, when I was appointed by President Goodluck Jonathan in 2010 for a three-year tenure, I had been advised by one or two very senior practitioners that I should simply concentrate on the traditional role of vetting adverts, and endeavour to avoid potentially troublesome issues like the constant disagreements between the two major breweries, among others. I however disagreed because I felt the economy and the industry were at a stage where we needed to strongly intervene and strengthen the structures of APCON, so that the federal regulator would be further empowered to play its role more effectively, and do more than just vetting and setting syllabuses for higher institutions. This led us to embark on the review of the fourth code, which culminated in the fifth Code. The work on the Code demanded a lot of tact, diplomacy, political adroitness and the need to manage many interests.”

     

    Foreign interests’ fear

    But it was not a smooth journey for the council. He said: “From when we started, foreign interests that did not want it attacked us ferociously. They imagined that if we were able to put the reform in place, it would stop them from taking over the Nigerian advertising business. At some point, I was reported to the National Assembly that I was using my position in APCON to stop certain foreign interests from operating in Nigeria.

    “I had to appear at the Senate to clear this. Then they reported me to the then Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, who investigated the allegation and found it to be untrue. Then they went to the Nigerian Investment Promotions Commission with the untruth that I was stopping foreign investors from coming into Nigeria. We showed the Commission proof that this was also not true.

    “Then they went to the Corporate Affairs Commission with the same lie and we dispelled it. It took the Minister of Information hosting an all-party meeting in Abuja, where they were warned to desist from the campaign of calumny against APCON and I.”

     

    How the reform sailed through

    Despite the challenges, he said APCON was able to review the advertising code and implemented it as the fifth code with support from the sectoral groups in APCON council: “The Council successfully implemented the Fifth Code Review following an industry-wide consultation through the APCON Committee on Advertising Practice Reforms (ACAPR) from 2010. The implementation commenced from January 2013,” he said.

    Akinwunmi noted that through Advertising Standards Panel (ASP), vetting of application rose by over 70 per cent and compliance level by over 75 per cent. “Vetting and approval of advertising materials is one of the core responsibilities of the Council through the ASP,” he said, adding that political parties also comply. “During the period, vetting of application rose by over 70 per cent and compliance level by over 75 per cent. I am happy to report that even the various political parties send their materials in for vetting. While we still experience some leakages, the awareness is higher, and compliance is more regular,” he said.

     

    To APCON, NBC, CPC and NAFDAC connection

    Akinwunmi said one of the biggest challenges faced by the drivers of the reform is the exposure of uncensored tradomedical advertisements, promising unsubstantiated reliefs for some ailments and diseases. “During the period, we commenced discussions with NAFDAC for a collaborative relationship, which was to ensure that all tradomedical advertising materials were simultaneously vetted by the three bodies. My council could not conclude the project, and hopefully, the next council will continue where we stopped. He said the council worked  closely with the Consumer Protection Council in ensuring that sales promotions were honest, and not abused, delivering on all the promises to the consumer.

    The council through partnership agreement with the International Centre for Alcoholic Policy (ICAP), Washington, United States, he said, was able to address issues relating to regulation of marketing of alcoholic and beverage firms.

    “This has been one of the most successful projects undertaken by my council. We went into a partnership agreement with the International Centre for Alcoholic Policy (ICAP), Washington, USA for the effective management of communication materials on alcohol beverage. Through this channel, APCON and the Beer Sectorial Group of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria successfully hosted the three international seminars and conferences in Lagos and Abuja, which involved delegates from many parts of Africa. The Beer Sectorial Group of MAN also sought our assistance and support for the provision of technical support for the setting up of it Self Regulatory (SR) Secretariat. Hopefully, APCON will hold a similar summit with the telecoms operators and other stakeholders within the industry to review overall communication and especially tactical campaigns and promotions,” he explained.

     

    Professional forums

    To deepen the reform in the corporate communication settings, Akinwunmi said APCON also initiated and hosted various media and brand journalists fora, as well as interactive sessions with the Association of Corporate Affairs Managers of Banks (ACAMB) to update them on the expectations and responsibilities of APCON.

    Also, he said APCON hosted a joint intervention through an Outdoor Forum involving the Outdoor Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (OAAN), other regulators and stakeholders.

  • The ongoing reforms at JAMB

    SIR, Oyo State-born university don, Professor Adedibu Ojerinde, has halted the demeaning image of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB). Before his emergence as JAMB registrar, the board released candidates’ results three months after conducting examinations. But, in Ojerinde’s first year, the results were released within ten days.

    The 2014 JAMB results were released within four days after conducting the examinations, while candidates got the results of the ongoing 2015 JAMB examinations within days via text message. JAMB is now computer-based. All hitherto JAMB miracle centres have been tactically closed down without

    deployment of security forces. Their owners were captured without being sent to prison. Ojerinde has killed corruption in JAMB without

    shooting a soul.

    Today, you can come to examinations’ centres with your mobile telephones and nobody would disturb you. Those making money by sending answers to

    candidates on examinations day via their mobile phones are now jobless. Their unholy business has been brought to a halt.

    JAMB does not need a battalion of policemen and soldiers again at its examinations’ centres. Today, candidates are to enter examination halls

    and answer their questions on a well-programmed computer systems. Candidates are told not to bother about bringing pen or pencil into the examination hall. You must read before you can pass. If you don’t read, you can’t pass. The era of non-appearance of candidates in JAMB is gone for good. With JAMB producing qualified candidates, Nigerian universities and other tertiary institutions would certainly be producing quality products.

    Professor Ojerinde has taught the younger generation and emerging leaders how to record meritorious feats without much talk and winning without propaganda. The late Dora Akunyili revolutionised the operations of the now derailed NAFDAC; Ribadu brought the now toothless EFCC to limelight;

    Babatunde Raji Fashola cleaned up the then criminal den called Oshodi;

    Adedibu Ojerinde kills corruption in JAMB; please whose name will enter the hall of fame NEXT?

    Without being sensational, my verdict today is that the Nigerian nation

    needs creative, patriotic, focused, committed and revolutionary leaders in

    the class of these patriots to deliver her citizens out of the current generational quagmire.

     

    • Maxwell Adeyemi Adeleye, Magodo, Lagos.
  • APCON: Surmounting the challenges of reforms

    APCON: Surmounting the challenges of reforms

    Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) Chairman, Uffot Udeme has resumed duties. It is expected that he will continue with the reform started by his predecessor, Lolu Akinwunmi, reports ADEDEJI ADEMIGBUJI.

    With the inauguration of the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) board penultimate week, much is expected of it in the ongoing reform in the industry which has been gazetted by the Federal Government.

    Its immediate past chairman, Mr. Lolu Akinwunmi, is optimistic that the new council, chaired by SO&U Group Managing Director Mr. Uffot Udeme, would ensure that the fifth advertising code is strictly enforced. The code is to standardise advertising practice in line with best global practices.

    There are fears that the code may be circumvented by some interest groups that are picking issues with foreign shareholding in Nigeria advertising business concerns.

    Those in the reform vanguard believe it will protect professionals from losing their jobs, enhance local content and talent development and prevent over westernisation of creative ideas. But, critics believe it is a protectionist reform that would not grow the industry.

    Expressing his confidence in the new council to sustain the reform, Akinwunmi said: “Even when he (Udeme) was not the chairman, he did. He is a thoroughbred professional and was the president of the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN). He understands what the reform is about and he will be well advised by the council.

    “Built into the council structure are also checks and balances that every chairman must respect. I should know. And at any rate, the reform status is definite, has been gazetted and presented to the President-in-Council in Abuja. But we don’t foresee any challenges with the new chairman and Council.”

     

    Road to reform

    Akinwunmi said the birth of the reform came with a price, noting what he went through while in office. He said: “First, when I was appointed by President Goodluck Jonathan in 2010 for a three-year tenure, I had been advised by one or two very senior practitioners that I should simply concentrate on the traditional role of vetting adverts, and endeavour to avoid potentially troublesome issues like the constant disagreements between the two major breweries, among others. I however disagreed because I felt the economy and the industry were at a stage where we needed to strongly intervene and strengthen the structures of APCON, so that the federal regulator would be further empowered to play its role more effectively, and do more than just vetting and setting syllabuses for higher institutions. This led us to embark on the review of the fourth code, which culminated in the fifth Code. The work on the Code demanded a lot of tact, diplomacy, political adroitness and the need to manage many interests.”

     

    Foreign interests’ fear

    But it was not a smooth journey for the council. He said: “From when we started, foreign interests that did not want it attacked us ferociously. They imagined that if we were able to put the reform in place, it would stop them from taking over the Nigerian advertising business. At some point, I was reported to the National Assembly that I was using my position in APCON to stop certain foreign interests from operating in Nigeria.

    “I had to appear at the Senate to clear this. Then they reported me to the then Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, who investigated the allegation and found it to be untrue. Then they went to the Nigerian Investment Promotions Commission with the untruth that I was stopping foreign investors from coming into Nigeria. We showed the Commission proof that this was also not true.

    “Then they went to the Corporate Affairs Commission with the same lie and we dispelled it. It took the Minister of Information hosting an all-party meeting in Abuja, where they were warned to desist from the campaign of calumny against APCON and I.”

     

    How the reform sailed through

    Despite the challenges, he said APCON was able to review the advertising code and implemented it as the fifth code with support from the sectoral groups in APCON council: “The Council successfully implemented the Fifth Code Review following an industry-wide consultation through the APCON Committee on Advertising Practice Reforms (ACAPR) from 2010. The implementation commenced from January 2013,” he said.

    Akinwunmi noted that through Advertising Standards Panel (ASP), vetting of application rose by over 70 per cent and compliance level by over 75 per cent. “Vetting and approval of advertising materials is one of the core responsibilities of the Council through the ASP,” he said, adding that political parties also comply. “During the period, vetting of application rose by over 70 per cent and compliance level by over 75 per cent. I am happy to report that even the various political parties send their materials in for vetting. While we still experience some leakages, the awareness is higher, and compliance is more regular,” he said.

     

    To APCON, NBC, CPC and NAFDAC connection

    Akinwunmi said one of the biggest challenges faced by the drivers of the reform is the exposure of uncensored tradomedical advertisements, promising unsubstantiated reliefs for some ailments and diseases. “During the period, we commenced discussions with NAFDAC for a collaborative relationship, which was to ensure that all tradomedical advertising materials were simultaneously vetted by the three bodies. My council could not conclude the project, and hopefully, the next council will continue where we stopped. He said the council worked  closely with the Consumer Protection Council in ensuring that sales promotions were honest, and not abused, delivering on all the promises to the consumer.

    The council through partnership agreement with the International Centre for Alcoholic Policy (ICAP), Washington, United States, he said, was able to address issues relating to regulation of marketing of alcoholic and beverage firms.

    “This has been one of the most successful projects undertaken by my council. We went into a partnership agreement with the International Centre for Alcoholic Policy (ICAP), Washington, USA for the effective management of communication materials on alcohol beverage. Through this channel, APCON and the Beer Sectorial Group of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria successfully hosted the three international seminars and conferences in Lagos and Abuja, which involved delegates from many parts of Africa. The Beer Sectorial Group of MAN also sought our assistance and support for the provision of technical support for the setting up of it Self Regulatory (SR) Secretariat. Hopefully, APCON will hold a similar summit with the telecoms operators and other stakeholders within the industry to review overall communication and especially tactical campaigns and promotions,” he explained.

     

    Professional forums

    To deepen the reform in the corporate communication settings, Akinwunmi said APCON also initiated and hosted various media and brand journalists fora, as well as interactive sessions with the Association of Corporate Affairs Managers of Banks (ACAMB) to update them on the expectations and responsibilities of APCON.

    Also, he said APCON hosted a joint intervention through an Outdoor Forum involving the Outdoor Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (OAAN), other regulators and stakeholders.

  • Entrepreneur praises Emefiele on reforms

    Entrepreneur praises Emefiele on reforms

    An Entrepreneur and auto dealer in Lagos, Adejare Adegbenro has commended the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele for his reforms in the apex bank.

    Adegbenro, who is the Managing Director/CEO of Balmoral International Limited, said in less than a month in office, the cashless policy became effective nationwide on June 30, though, spearheaded by his predecessor. He described his reforms as ‘having human face.’

    The cashless policy started in January 2012, in Lagos as a pilot exercise before moving to Rivers, Kano, Ogun, Abia, and Anambra States as well as FCT, Abuja.

    The businessman, who is also a grandson of the late elder statesman and frontline nationalist, Pa Alfred Rewane, was particularly happy with Emefiele’s achievements in redirecting the activities of the Bureau De Change (BDC) in line with his ongoing reforms. He said: “His record of success arguably remains unprecedented.”

    The current sanity in the operations of BDC in the country, according to him, is a welcome development from the unorganised system with the attendant leakages and impunity that has become the order of the day.

    He praised the CBN’s Governor’s courage and wisdom in the way he handled the initial protest and resistance that greeted his efforts at sanitising this sub-sector of the economy, adding that he supported Emefiele’s decision to block the leakages.

  • Lawyer seeks electoral reforms

    The outgoing Assistant National Publicity Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Mr John Austin Unachukwu has urged the incoming executive, led by Mr Augustine  Alegeh (SAN) to reform the electoral process to make it seamless, less rigorous, transparent and credible.

    Unachukwu,  a candidate for the Publicity Secretary, was disqualified on the eve of the election because he was yet to clock 10 at the Bar. The Electoral Committee said he would be 10 at the Bar in October to be eligible to contest as provided for in the NBA constitution.

    This was after the NBA Lagos Branch, where he belongs, had asked him to pay dues as required of one who is 10 years at the Bar, which he did since last year. He, therefore, wants a clarification on how the year of call is calculated.

    Unachukwu, in a statement, described the situation as “disqualification  by ambush”, adding: “Results of screening were not made known to candidates, only for  some of  them to be  told  of their disqualification on the eve of the election when they came for accreditation and presentation of their manifestoes. No formal or prior information of  disqualification  was given  to  the affected candidates

    “Some other contestants  were disqualified and nobody  told them anything except that they did not find their names on  the  list of qualified candidates .

    “It has become imperative for the NBA National Executive Committee (NEC)  to pass a resolution on how the number  of years of call to the  Bar is computed in the association. Does it include the year of call? This will reduce or completely eliminate the ambiguity  surrounding  the interpretation of the years.

    “ A situation where candidates travel to all the nooks and corners of the country on campaign,  only to be told that the  list of candidates was just posted and their  names were not listed  as  contestants, with no opportunity to appeal, is highly undemocratic,  condemnable, dictatorial and amounts to disqualification by ambush

    ‘’The time for NBA elections are provided for in the constitution. Elections should be properly planned and electoral time table and guidelines released, so candidates for  the  elections should be screened on time and  given opportunity to appeal and be heard by the NEC before elections, in the spirit of fair hearing and democracy.

    “This will also reduce the tension and spate of law suits that trail the  association’s activities.  A situation where lawyers stand on a queue  for almost four hours in the sun before casting  their votes is not too good and should be improved upon.”

  • Reforms shake up Mexico Telecoms

    Mexican telecoms reforms are forcing the break-up of billionaire Carlos Slim’s America Movil empire, Latin America’s biggest telecoms company.

    Mr  Slim, one of the world’s richest men, says he will bring America Movil’s market share below 50 per cent.

    Its Telmex fixed line subsidiary has 80 per cent of the Mexican market and its mobile Telcel operation 70  per cent.

    The reforms would make America Movil in its present form a dominant player, subject to strict new rules.

    They would include being forced to share infrastructure with rivals such as Spain’s Telefonica.

    In a move aimed at avoiding this, it will present its restructuring to the country’s new telecoms watchdog, the Federal Institute of Telecommunications (IFT).

    The much-delayed legislation reforming telecoms and broadcasting is expected to get final approval from Congress this week.

    It was introduced by President Enrique Pena Nieto, who took office 20 months ago promising to boost competition in the Mexican economy.

    The new rules will also affect Televisa, the world’s biggest provider of Spanish-language content, which has more than 60 per cent of the free-to-air TV market.

    Although America Movil has not yet said what it would sell off in order to reduce its market share, it has said it will split its infrastructure business and cellphone towers away from Telcel into a separate business.

    Mexico’s Transport and Communications Ministry said in a statement: “This decision could transform competition in the telecommunications sector, with improved quality and better prices for services to end users.”

    If America Movil does cut its market share below 50 per cent, it will be allowed into other markets, such as the pay-TV sector, which it is barred from at the moment.

  • Update on power sector reforms

    During the period March 2013 to March 2014, Nigeria’s Power sector recorded vibrancy in policy implementation. The high point were the practical steps to translate reform policies into reality.

    At the start, the power reform process was practically on pause, with the sector lacking substantive leadership for about five months. The entrance of Professor Chinedu Nebo as minister raised hopes and birthed the promise of a new beginning for one of the most vital sectors of the national economy. It was time to get down to business to tackle issues that needed to be dealt with, in order to fast-track power delivery, in line with the Electricity Power Sector Regulatory Act EPSRA 2005 and President Jonathan’s Power Sector Roadmap of 2010.

    In order to provide the formidable and focused leadership badly needed at the time, the minister held meetings and consultations with stakeholders. This established unprecedented synergy among the stakeholders and their different but related roles, resulting in a unified power sector with the same agenda, same focus and same commitment to deliver more power.

    Seeing that the inability of the nation’s transmission capability at the time was grossly inadequate to wheel out even the available transmitted wattage, the minister, early in the day, took the bold, quick step of empowering the contracted managers of the TCN to resume work by presenting the required Schedule of Delegated Authority SODA to them. This was followed swiftly by the inauguration of the Supervisory Board for the company.

    In view of the critical role of transmission in the power supply chain, the need to rehabilitate, upgrade and expand transmission infrastructure across the country became urgent. Massive fund-raising efforts by the minister followed, yielding substantial results. This was the first time ever, that external funding was sourced for the cash-strapped TCN, for its decayed infrastructure. These included funding from the African Development Bank and the Eurobond among others.

    Mid-January 2014, the Federal Executive Council approved N1.9billion for the supply of 746 kilometers of aluminum conductor composite core reinforced (ACCR) for the re-conduction of the Onitsha-New Haven 330kv transmission line that runs up to Makurdi in Benue State. The Federal Executive Council also secured a loan of 170 million dollars from the French Development Agency to boost power transmission in the Federal Capital Territory.

    Shortly after assumption of office, Professor Nebo took a tour of some generation, transmission and distribution facilities across the country, commissioning and activating some, including some high technology-based initiatives towards eliminating stressful processes and fraudulent practices in metering and billing.

    The ministerial tour revealed various degrees of dilapidation and state of financial crisis that was worsened by the total lack of budgetary provision for generation and distribution companies in the 2013 budget.

    To prevent a total collapse of the system due to non-budgetary provisions for the PHCN in 2003, and especially in view of imminent handover to private investors, the minister sought for, and the President graciously granted intervention funding in two releases, to the tune of about 13.8billion naira, as a lifeline, for the maintenance of the generation and distribution companies.

    Virtually every aspect of the electricity value chain, as well as segments and agencies made good progress and recorded remarkable achievements in the period in review.

    In collaboration with other agencies, the Presidential Action Committee on Power PACP planned and executed short-term projects towards service delivery targets.

    The operations of the Presidential Task Force on Power were as vibrant as ever, monitoring, facilitating and fast-tracking the process of transformation.

    The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission was strengthened to perform its regulatory functions more effectively, certifying, monitoring and ensuring compliance with the rules of engagement, as more and more investors entered the emerging electricity market.

    The Rural Electrification Agency, resuscitated from a comatose state, was energized with funding as well as the appointment and inauguration of a Supervisory Board.

    The envisaged local content for the nation’s manpower began to materialize, as the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria, (NAPTIN) continued to execute government’s deliberate strategy to provide the technical manpower required to replace aging personnel and indigenous experts for the expanding industry. The institute gives specialized, needs-specific training to young Nigerians, and graduated its first 243 engineers in November.

    As envisaged in the Electricity Power Sector Regulatory Act, the role of the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trader (NBET) in boosting investor-confidence was consolidated, to enable it engage in the purchase and re-sale of power and ancillary services from independent power producers, and from PHCN successor generation companies.

    The transfer of debts of the PHCN in the wake of privatization, to the Nigeria Electricity Liability Management Company facilitated the taking-off of successor companies, free of heavy debts and liabilities.

    The Electricity Management Services Limited EMS was established in September 2013 to re-position the power sector for the delivery of, not only increased quantity, but also quality of electricity. The EMS has already begun to carry out its mandate of ensuring standards of materials, thereby enhancing safety.

    The quantum of electricity infrastructure delivered through the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) in the period was a big plus to the reform process. Of the 10 NIPP plants completed or nearing completion, two were commissioned and others are due for commissioning soon. The process of selling these plants to capable investors is at an advanced stage, with over 200 investors bidding. The NDPHC has also completed several transmission and distribution projects.

    In line with global trends, and in pursuance of the 2003 approval of renewable energy as part of the National Energy Policy, Nigeria is promoting energy security by diversifying energy sources. In addition to existing hydro plants, the 700 MW Zungeru Hydro Power Project (which was on the drawing board for 30 years) was flagged off by President Jonathan on May 28, 2013 with a promise to kick-start work on the 3,050 MW Mambilla project, as well as Gurara 2, among other smaller hydro projects. Work on coal-fired plants in Kogi, Benue, Enugu and Gombe states has advanced considerably, targeting 30% of the nation’s power needs

    Work on the Wind Power Farm in Katsina for the development of wind-generated energy has progressed, and it is to be commissioned soon.

    Perhaps the most interesting development in the renewable energy efforts is the Light Up Rural Nigeria Solar Project, commissioned by the President in rural FCT, and to be extended to other off-grid villages.

    Over and above all the achievements recorded in the power sector in the last 12 months, the successful privatization of power assets, spearheaded by the Ministry of Power stands out. The Bureau for Public Enterprises BPE, working with the National Council on Privatisation NCP headed by Vice President Arch. Namadi Sambo, planned and executed a massive privatization of the nation’s power utilities, now acclaimed to be highly transparent, and the biggest in the world.

    Infrastructure vandalism is receiving Presidential intervention. So is the urgent need for steady improvement in gas supply.

    During the period, mature leadership and government’s respect for the dignity of workers led to systematic settlement of workers’ entitlement up 98%.

    It is a thing of pride to the Jonathan administration, that between March 2013 and March 2014, these milestones were covered in the Power Sector Reform Roadmap, in accordance with the EPSRA of 2005.

    • Daniel is the Special Assistant (Media) to the Hon. Minister of Power