FG suspends Abuja Disco’s management, appoints interim board

Solomon Ezeme

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the suspension of the Management of Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), requesting a new interim Governing Board to oversee the company’s daily operations.

The President approved the suspension on Tuesday, and susequently requested that a new interim Governing Board be set up to oversee the DisCo’s daily operations.

The decision of the Presidency was communicated by Mr. Goddy Jedy Agba, the Minister of State for Power, in a statement. According to him, the suspension takes immediate effect.

The suspension is a follow-up to the industrial action embarked on by staff members under the aegis of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), over non-payment of arrears of pensions, allowances, salaries and promotion.

The industrial action it would be recalled threw most parts of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) into darkness

The release by the Power Ministry said, “The presidential directives as conveyed have also directed the Bureau of Public Enterprises to set up a new Management team of the AEDC.

“However, in a memorandum of understanding MOU, jointly signed by the Minister of State Power, Goddy Jedy Agba, the Chairman Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission,NERC, Sanusi Garba, Director General Bureau of Public Enterprises, Alex Okoli, Comrade Joe Ajaero on behalf of the union, the Federal government has ordered the suspension of the strike, given 21 days within which the outstanding emoluments and entitlements of staff will be paid.

“Government has described the non-performance and incompetence of the AEDC as a national embarrassment, saying the suspension of the management team subsists until further notice.”