President Bola Tinubu has approved the indefinite suspension of the Managing Director/CEO of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Ahmad Salihijo Ahmad, alongside three Executive Directors of the agency.
A statement by Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, said this followed a comprehensive investigation into the financial activities of the agency.
The President also approved the appointment of Abba Abubakar Aliyu as the new Managing Director/CEO of the agency in acting capacity with immediate effect.
The new appointees of the agency are, Ayoade Gboyega as Executive Director, Corporate Services and Umar Abdullahi Umar as Executive Director, Technical Services.
Others are, Doris Uboh as Executive Director, Rural Electrification Fund (REF), and Olufemi Akinyelure as Head of Project Management Unit, Nigeria Electrification Project.
Ngelale said the suspended officials, alongside the former managing director are, Olaniyi Alaba Netufo, Executive Director, Corporate Services; Barka Sajou, Executive Director, Technical Services and Sa’adatu Balgore, Executive Director, Rural Electrification Fund.
Ngelale said the President has ordered a wider investigation into the conduct of the suspended officials in an alleged fraudulent mis-expenditure, amounting to over N1.2 billion over the past two years.
He added that some of the funds had already been recovered by the anti-graft agencies.
The spokesman said Tinubu charged all appointees to uphold the highest standards of transparency and accountability in the discharge of their duties.
He also reiterated his determination to elevate the yearnings of Nigerians for good governance and qualitative service delivery above the narrow interests of individuals entrusted to provide critical services.
Tinubu approves reconstitution of NELMCO board
Similarly, President Tinubu has approved the reconstitution of the Board of the Nigeria Electricity Liability Management Company (NELMCO).
The President also gave approval for a modification to the NELMCO Board structure, which empowers the Office of the Minister of Power to take over the Board Chairmanship from the Office of the Minister of Finance, in view of NELMCO’s central role in the operation of the Nigeria Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).
According to a statement by Ngelale, the Minister of Power will serve as NELMCO Board Chairman, th Minister of Finance will serve as NELMCO Board Vice-Chairman while Director-General, Debt Management Office and Director-General, Bureau of Public Enterprises will be members of the board.
Mrs. Mojoyinoluwa Dekalu-Thomas was appointed NELMCO Managing Director/CEO for a five-year term, Mr. Joseph Asuku Bello, NELMCO Executive Director, Asset Management (five-year term), Mr. Hassan Yahya, NELMCO Executive Director, Corporate Services (five-year term), Mr. Abdullahi Mahmud Gaya, Non-Executive Director (three-year term) and Prof. (Mrs) Ayanfemi Ayandele — Non-Executive Director (three-year term).
“In consonance with his Renewed Hope Agenda, President Tinubu anticipates that NELMCO Board’s new structure and composition will yield expeditious and measurable progress in the management of the power sector’s post-privatization liabilities to create conditions for the sustainable attainment of world-class standards of operational efficiency across all sub-components of the Nigeria Electricity Supply Industry (NESI),” the statement reads.