
Stakeholders in the nation’s power sector have flayed the Federal Government for the delay in the inauguration of board members of Transmission Company of Nigeria(TCN)
They said the chairman and board members of the agency have been idle since they were appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari early this year,adding that it’s time the government inaugurate them to add value to the nation’s power sector.
Kunle Kola OLUBIYO,the President ,
Nigeria Consumer Protection Network ,told Premium News that if the board of Transmission Company of Nigeria ( TCN )
is inaugurated it will results in having in place a substantive chairman and new board members of TCN ,who in turn will select a new / substantive MD /CEO of TCN
and with attendant positive results
Other stakeholders blamed the Minister of Power,Engr.Mamman Saleh for allegedly
delaying the inauguration of the board of TCN for some unexplained reasons.
They also alleged the Minister may have decided to hold back the inauguration of the board because of the fear that he would lose control of the agency, because as soon as the board comes alive major decisions would have to be taken by the board chairman and his colleagues.
They also alleged that technical and policy issues may also may be responsible for the delay of the inauguration as some of the board members lack requisite technical knowledge of how the industry operates
But Aaron Artimas Personal Assistant to the Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, confirmed that the list of the board members is with the minister,adding that they would be inaugurated as soon as some things are sorted out.
He said the minister is not averse to any of the board members.
He claimed that the organization has not had Board members in the last 10 years and had functioned satisfactorily.
“What is left to be done is an administrative thing. All the people involved in the running of the industry must all agreed, right from the office of the Chief of Staff to the President, the offices of the Vice President and that of the minister must all agree on all those things that would make the board take off effectively and efficiently.
He said because of his supervisory role in the power industry,his boss has his hands full with works, such as ensuring the works commences on the Mambila power project, and other projects under the ministry which have not given him the opportunity to settle down.
President Buhari had January,this year,appointed board members for the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) with Muhammad K. Ahmad as the Chairman.
The board will oversee the selection of a substantive Managing Director of the TCN as well as provide policy directions for the only power utility still owned 100% by the government.
Other members of the board include: chief Henry Okolo, Imamudden Talba, Ambassador Usman Sarki, Ali Haruna, Engr. Simeone Atakulu, Zubaida Mahey Rasheed, Dr Mustapha Abiodun Akinkunmi, Engr. Oladele Amoda, and Dr Nkiru Balonwu.
The TCN Board would also have representatives of the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Ministry of Power, Bureau for Public Enterprises, FGN Power Company Limited, and Executive Management of TCN.
TCN, the only bulk power company in Nigeria, currently has an Acting Managing Director, Sule Ahmed Abdulaziz. He was appointed in May, 2020.