Avoiding distractions in power ministry
Since news broke about some happenings at the Rural Electrification Agency, (REA), my friends and I have been receiving calls. The REA under the Ministry of Power, happens to be one agency we have repeatedly discussed in our circle as an agency that requires some form of freshness and direction particularly from the procurement point […]
Since news broke about some happenings at the Rural Electrification Agency, (REA), my friends and I have been receiving calls. The REA under the Ministry of Power, happens to be one agency we have repeatedly discussed in our circle as an agency that requires some form of freshness and direction particularly from the procurement point of view.
But the developments unfolding at the REA are at best distractions to the Minister of Power, Engr. Sale Mamman, who has an herculean task to satisfy Nigerians with adequate electricity.
As someone who must have had dealings with most procurement departments in most of the Federal Ministries and agencies in Abuja, I want to bare my mind on some of the developments at the REA from the position of strength. This is because a group known as the Human Rights Writers’ Association of Nigeria, have joined the fray of intimidators and blackmailers in distracting the minister from doing his job without fear of favour.
As a man from Ilorin, Kwara State, I have had cause to interact with most Directors of Procurement within the last two decades, and think I can categorically say that the Minister of Power is on the right track in effecting necessary redeployments in any of the departments or agencies under him for the purpose of optimal performance and service delivery. The name of one Bulus Maiyaki have been repeatedly mentioned in the reports making the rounds as one deployment to the department of procurement done in bad faith with nepotistic tendencies.
My checks however reveal that this same Bulus Maiyaki, has been a Deputy Director, procurement in the REA for 7 years and dully qualified and experienced to man the department as a Director. In terms of experience in procurement matters, he has traversed other noteable agencies and had served as General Manager Procurement at the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), where he served on secondment. Further checks from colleagues who had dealings with him reveal he performed creditably well and reputed to be one of the best GM Procurement at the NHIS.
The excuse that he had a case with the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), should not be an issue since there is no record anywhere inducting him for any wrongdoing. In fact, virtually 50% of the directors at the REA are regular visitors at the ICPC for routine checks and performance of oversight functions by the Commission. Does this then mean that they have been indicted or have cases to answer? To the best of my knowledge, almost all Directors of Finance, Accounts and Procurement have regular interface with the ICPC for normal routine checks and balances which is normal government procedures and not in any way unusual.
As a fact, in procurement circles, it is not out of place that as a procurement official, he may have interfaced with the ICPC for the purpose of routine clarification in government business. His predecessors had had cause to be in ICPC on several occasions for the same routine purposes and since a court of law have not found him guilty, what then is the issue?
The minister should be wary of mischief makers under his nose who are bent on distracting him. He should stick to his reorganisation plans to clean up the mess at REA. He should ignore the sponsored satanic write-ups by doing the right thing because posterity shall judge him.
Every minister of the federal republic, by mandate has the right to push for reorganisation in departments and agencies under his watch for optimal performance because at the end of the day, the blame stops at his table.
In government business, there is nothing wrong or strange about redeployments provided it is done in good faith, and persons appointed are qualified, competent, experienced and have capacity to do the job.
In this case, from my findings, Mr Bulus Maiyaki fits in, and only being given a bad name to destroy him. There are several agencies and ministries today in Nigeria with directors or key heads of agencies from a section of the country, but no one is raising eyebrow because those manning those positions have the capacity, ability, experience and technical know-how to do the job. This must be the yardstick not sentiments. I believe those rooting for the position of Director Procurement at the REA are not better than Bulus Maiyaki.
I understand that the group fighting the appointment of Mr Bulus Maiyaki, and bent on his removal are doing so for selfish reasons because they want to put a stooge who will be doing their biddings to siphon public funds since they know he will not play ball with them or bend to their dirty unprofessional procurement practices.
It is practices like going to contractors to force them into buying wrong solar street light panels from their dubious dealers against ethics of procurement that has led to most of the contractors who were awarded solar street lights panel for 2019, not to be mobilised to site.
Opeyemi Adisa wrote from Ilorin, Kwara State