By Correspondent in Abuja.
President Muhammadu Buhari has suspended the management of Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) and approved a new interim governing board to oversee the company’s daily operations.
The the Minister of State for Power, Goddy Jedy Agba, disclosed this in a statement in Abuja.
According to him,the Federal government ordered the suspension of the strike and gave 21 days within which the outstanding emoluments and entitlements of staff would be paid.
This,he added, is contained in a memorandum of understanding MOU, signed by the Minister of State for Power, Goddy Jedy Agba, the chairman Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission NERC, Sanusi Garba, Director General Bureau of Public Enterprises, Alex Okoli and Comrade Joe Ajaero on behalf of the union,
Government noted with dismay, the nonperformance and incompetence of the AEDC, describing the developmnt as a national embarrassment, adding that the the suspension of the management team subsists until further notice.
The online publication recalls that social and economic activities showed downword trend for hours on Monday,in north central states and Abuja due to black out but was suspended later,following the timely intervention of the federal government.
The Reporters also recalls that the members of staff of the company on Monday downed tools and expressed their dismay over non-payment of arrears of their pensions, allowances, and salaries among other demands.
Consequently, the president directed the Bureau of Public Enterprises to set up a new management team of the AEDC.
Some residents of Lokoja,the Kogi State capital, particularly those with social and commercial concerns, who spoke with our Correspondent on the developmnt expressed delight over the restoration of power to the area.
“I am extremely happy over the suspension of NUEE industrial action,which if not that both parties saw the wisdom in arresting the situation, would have spelt doom for my cold fish business.
“I just bought some cartoons of iced fish for sale. The whole products would have gone rot by now, if the strike continues. Kudos to the federal government for wading into the ugly developmnt and safe north central states and Abuja,the nation’s capitalfrom another disaster,” Mrs Agnes Audu said.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
