The purported suspension of the Managing Director of Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading PLC (NBET) by the Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, on Tuesday 24th December 2019, has been described by a source in the Presidency, as an exercise in futility, illegal and abuse of power.
According to the highly placed source who doesn’t want his name mentioned, the minister has no right to sack or suspend any head of a parastatal either under him or elsewhere as he did not appoint such head of the agency. He explained that it was only President Mohammadu Buhari that has such power to suspend or even sack any head of federal parastatal.
In the case of NBET boss, the source further explained that the presidency is aware of what is happening in the parastatal and would make its position known soon.
“The terse statement from the minister on Wednesday, purporting the suspension of the NBET MD, is tantamount to bringing chaos to the power sector. Also, you should know that from the very day that a retreat was held for these ministers before they assumed duties, the Secretary to the Government of Federation (SGF) made it known to them that they (ministers) don’t have right to remove any head of agency under them, as they are not the appointees of the minsters.”
He urged the general public to disregard such moves by the minister of power, adding that at the appropriate time, the presidency will react to what is happening in NBET.
