Contrary to the impression created by the presidency
that the Minister of Power, Barth
Nnaji, resigned from office on his own volition,
highly placed sources familiar with the matter
have told PREMIUM TIMES that Mr. Nnaji
was actually forced to resign Tuesday following a gale of allegations linking him with attempts to
subvert the bidding process for the sale of Afam
Power plant. Aso Rock spokespe
that the Minister of Power, Barth
Nnaji, resigned from office on his own volition,
highly placed sources familiar with the matter
have told PREMIUM TIMES that Mr. Nnaji
was actually forced to resign Tuesday following a gale of allegations linking him with attempts to
subvert the bidding process for the sale of Afam
Power plant. Aso Rock spokespe
rson, Reuben Abati,
had released
a statement this evening saying President
Goodluck Jonathan had accepted the power minister’s resignation and wished him well in his
future endeavours. But presidency sources have told
us the minister
was compelled by Mr. Jonathan to resign after
allegations of conflict of interest in the
privatisation of the power plant was confirmed . Reports earlier this week had linked Mr. Nnaji
with direct interests in one of the firms
shortlisted to bid for the 776 megawatts (MW)
capacity Afam power plant, already slated for
privatisation by the Federal Government. The plant,
consisting about 18 gas turbines, is considered the most viable of the power plants
slated for privatization by the Federal
government, particularly with the recent approval
of about N500 million for its rehabilitation. Apart
from his interest in acquiring the plant,
Mr Nnaji reportedly used his privileged position to influence the emergence of one of the firms in
pole position to be selected winner, an effort that
reportedly earned him a gratification of a brand
new Prado jeep and cash reward in excess of
N89million. Mr. Nnaji could not be reached
Tuesday night to respond to these allegations. The National Union of Electricity Employees
(NUEE) has, since the commencement of the process
of privatising the Power Holding Company of
Nigeria (PHCN) subsidiary firms, engaged the
minister in a running battle, accusing him of
pursuing a hidden selfish agenda. NUEE General Secretary, Joe Ajaero, had, on
behalf of the PHCN workers that have already
been served sack letters, queried the decision to
give them only 25 per cent of their entitlement
for Pension and Gratuity, pointing out that the
arrangement confirmed their fears that Mr. Nnaji’s reform was aimed at strangulating
workers. Prior to his appointment, Mr Nnaji was the
chairman, Geometrics Power, one of the 18 private
companies that were granted operational licenses
by the Federal Government to undertake the
generation of electricity to compliment the effort to boost the country’s available supply
capacity. It was gathered that the decision to ask Mr.
Nnaji to turn in his resignation letter may have
followed the confirmation by the Presidency of
some of the allegations levelled against him.
President Goodluck Jonathan was said to have decision to ask his minister to resign his
appointment rather than sack him, to save his
administration the monumental embarrassment
such an action could have generated. Presidential
spokesperson, Reuben Abati, could not
be reached for comments as he did not answer calls to his mobile telephones. via PremiumTimes.
had released
a statement this evening saying President
Goodluck Jonathan had accepted the power minister’s resignation and wished him well in his
future endeavours. But presidency sources have told
us the minister
was compelled by Mr. Jonathan to resign after
allegations of conflict of interest in the
privatisation of the power plant was confirmed . Reports earlier this week had linked Mr. Nnaji
with direct interests in one of the firms
shortlisted to bid for the 776 megawatts (MW)
capacity Afam power plant, already slated for
privatisation by the Federal Government. The plant,
consisting about 18 gas turbines, is considered the most viable of the power plants
slated for privatization by the Federal
government, particularly with the recent approval
of about N500 million for its rehabilitation. Apart
from his interest in acquiring the plant,
Mr Nnaji reportedly used his privileged position to influence the emergence of one of the firms in
pole position to be selected winner, an effort that
reportedly earned him a gratification of a brand
new Prado jeep and cash reward in excess of
N89million. Mr. Nnaji could not be reached
Tuesday night to respond to these allegations. The National Union of Electricity Employees
(NUEE) has, since the commencement of the process
of privatising the Power Holding Company of
Nigeria (PHCN) subsidiary firms, engaged the
minister in a running battle, accusing him of
pursuing a hidden selfish agenda. NUEE General Secretary, Joe Ajaero, had, on
behalf of the PHCN workers that have already
been served sack letters, queried the decision to
give them only 25 per cent of their entitlement
for Pension and Gratuity, pointing out that the
arrangement confirmed their fears that Mr. Nnaji’s reform was aimed at strangulating
workers. Prior to his appointment, Mr Nnaji was the
chairman, Geometrics Power, one of the 18 private
companies that were granted operational licenses
by the Federal Government to undertake the
generation of electricity to compliment the effort to boost the country’s available supply
capacity. It was gathered that the decision to ask Mr.
Nnaji to turn in his resignation letter may have
followed the confirmation by the Presidency of
some of the allegations levelled against him.
President Goodluck Jonathan was said to have decision to ask his minister to resign his
appointment rather than sack him, to save his
administration the monumental embarrassment
such an action could have generated. Presidential
spokesperson, Reuben Abati, could not
be reached for comments as he did not answer calls to his mobile telephones. via PremiumTimes.
integrity which has come under attacks". - Prof Bart
Nnaji, former Minister of Power. The big question is, whiose report do we believe? Prof or presidency??
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