The Presidency has said that President Muhammadu Buhari did not order the removal of the management of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), contradicting an earlier announcement made by the Ministry of Power.
Recall that on Tuesday, the Minister of Power, Abubakar Aliyu, announced that Buhari had authorized the replacement of the management of the AEDC over the industrial action carried out by its workers.
However, on Wednesday, a former head of the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission, Sam Amadi, told newsmen that the announcement was reported out of context.
Amadi said the decision was taken instead by the United Bank of Africa, which has taken over the electricity firm following AEDC’s loan repayment default.
On Monday, electricity workers began an industrial action over non-remittance of employees’ benefits. They closed down electricity facilities, throwing the federal capital, Abuja, Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger, and parts of Kaduna into darkness.
Garba Shehu, in a statement on Wednesday, said the president was not involved in the removal of the company’s leadership.
He said, “This cannot be true. Since the privatization of the Power Sector in 2013, the management of the successor companies has reverted to the new owners. It is, therefore, totally out of place and inconceivable that the President would be linked to the management of a private organization, let alone sacking it.
“It is gladdening to note that the minister quoted in the statement has distanced himself from it.
“The Presidency, therefore, wishes to state expressly and reassure investors in the economy that President Buhari did not order the sack of the management of AEDC, nor does he intend to interfere in the running of the affairs of private business entities.
“The Presidency, however, welcomes ongoing discussions with relevant stakeholders to resolve the issues surrounding the recent developments in the company.”
