Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, workers yesterday protested against alleged removal of its Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Abubakar Atiku, by the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola.
The workers gathered at the entrance and chanted songs against Fashola.
Speaking on behalf of the workers, the Abuja Chapter Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Electricity Employees, Wisdom Nwachukwu, read a letter that was signed by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mr. Louis Edozien, and dated January 31, 2017, which was addressed to the Minister of Finance requesting for the secondment of Mohammed as the transitional CEO of TCN with effect from February 1, 2017.
Nwachukwu argued that President Muhammadu Buhari had directed Fashola to stay action on the move to remove Atiku, adding that the current boss of the transmission company was more competent than Mohammed.
He said, “We are against the impunity perpetuated by Fashola and his permanent secretary, and we will resist this with the last drop of our blood. Between the minister and the President, who runs this country? Why should the minister flout an express order from the President on this matter?
“Also, how can you bring an accountant to come and run a technical company like the TCN and ask a competent engineer to leave office for someone who, even if promoted to the highest level in this company, will not exceed the post of an assistant general manager? This will not happen and if they think they can force their way, we will show them what we are made of.”
Reacting, Special Assistant to Fashola on Media, Hakeem Bello, told Punch that it was established that the basis for the protest by the unions was unnecessary as there had been plans by the Federal Government to restructure the TCN following the exit of Manitoba Hydro International.
“The memo that recommended that the contract of Manitoba be allowed to lapse also recommended that there should be a reversion plan that will allow the TCN to perform to its optimum structure.
“The person was sent on secondment as an interim CEO for the TCN from the African Development Bank to rectify a lot of the non-technical, managerial and financial issues preventing the TCN as an organisation from functioning to its peak levels.
“He has a clear mandate to restructure and address a lot of the issues affecting the company,” Bello added.
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