*Reconstitutes NELMCO Board
PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has approved the indefinite suspension of the managing director/chief executive officer of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Ahmad Salihijo Ahmad, alongside three executive directors of the agency.
A statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Ajuri Ngelale, said this decision followed a comprehensive investigation into the financial activities of the agency.
The President also approved the appointment of Abba Abubakar Aliyu as the acting Managing Director/CEO of the agency with immediate effect., as well as Ayoade Gboyega as Executive Director, Corporate Services, and Umar Abdullahi Umar, son of Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), as Executive Director, Technical Services.
Others appointed include Doris Uboh as Executive Director, Rural Electrification Fund (REF) and Olufemi Akinyelure as Head of Project Management Unit, Nigeria Electrification Project.
Ngelale named other suspended officials as Olaniyi Alaba Netufo (executive director, Corporate Services); Barka Sajou (executive director, Technical Services) and Sa’adatu Balgore (executive director, Rural Electrification Fund).
The statement disclosed that Tinubu has ordered a wider investigation into the conduct of the suspended officials in an alleged fraudulent misapplication of over N1.2billion in the past two years, some of which had already been recovered by anti-graft agencies.
Ngelale said Tinubu charged all appointees to uphold the highest standards of transparency and accountability in the discharge of their duties, reiterating 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.
Meanwhile, the President has approved the reconstitution of the Board of the Nigeria Electricity Liability Management Company (NELMCO).
He 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).
Ngelale, in another statement, said the Minister of Power would serve as NELMCO Board Chairman, Minister of Finance as NELMCO Board Vice Chairman and Director General, Debt Management Office and Director General, Bureau of Public Enterprises as members.
Mrs. Mojoyinoluwa Dekalu-Thomas was appointed NELMCO Managing Director/CEO for a five-year term, Mr. Joseph Asuku Bello, as Executive Director, Asset Management, Mr. Hassan Yahya, as Executive Director, Corporate Services, Mr. Abdullahi Mahmud Gaya as Non-Executive Director and Prof. Ayanfemi Ayandele as Non-Executive Director.
