By Chisaa Okoye
The new board and interim management for the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) have pledged commitment to the welfare of employees of the power company.
President Muhammadu Buhari penultimate week, sacked the management of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), following a prolonged internal power tussle among the owners of the company which hampered operations of the distribution company and affected the welfare of its staff.
Besides, the dissolution of the board by the President Buhari was accelerated by the industrial action embarked upon by the aggrieved staff of the company over the non-payment of arrears of pensions, allowances, salaries and promotions.
Consequently, a new board, chaired by Mr. Victor Osadolor,
the current Chairman of UBA Pensions, a Non-Executive Director of African Finance Corporation (AFC) and a former Deputy Managing Director of the United Bank for Africa (UBA) was appointed to oversee the day-to-day operations of the electricity distribution company.
Osadolor, a seasoned finance and business turnaround expert with over three decades of corporate experience is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), and an honorary life member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN).
Addressing the staff on assumption of office, Osadolor had promised to make employees welfare a priority even as he urged them to remain steadfast and support the new board and interim management as they embark on the transformation of the company.
“I want to assure you that the new Board of Directors is committed to the well-being of our employees. May I please request that all employees and stakeholders remain steadfast and support the interim management as they embark on the transformation of the business for our collective benefit. I thank you all for the sacrifices and commitment thus far as we begin this refreshing chapter of our corporate journey”, Osadolor said.
The new board also has Mr Alex Okoh, Director General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) as member. Okoh is currently a member of the Presidential Economic Advisory Council, and has over three decades of corporate experience in general management, leadership, banking and organisational development. During his career in the banking sector, he served in a variety of leadership roles, including corporate banking, operations, treasury, as well as initiating and designing transformative projects and processes.
Other members of the board are Atiku Abubakar Tambuwal, Sam Adikamkwu; a legal practitioner and former Chief Legal Adviser at the United Bank for Africa (UBA); and Muyiwa Akinyemi, seasoned accountant and a current Group Executive at the United Bank for Africa (UBA).
The interim management is led by Bada Akinwumi, who will serve as the Interim Managing Director. Other members of the interim management are: Sani Usman, Interim Chief Business Officer; Babajide Ibironke, Interim Chief Finance Officer; Donald Etim, Interim Chief Marketing Officer; and Femi Zacheus Interim Chief Technical Officer.
The new appointments followed the approval by the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and the BPE, confirming the interim management as fit and proper to provide leadership to the Abuja DISCO.