Manitoba hydro are not concessioners – Power Minister

[FMINigeria]

                        The Minister of Power, Chinedu Nebo has revealed that the role of Manitoba Hydro International in the running of the nation's transmission network is that of delegated authority given to a management outfit with international influence, for a stipulated period of 3 to 5 years.

Chinedu Nebo noted that this clarification is necessary in order to correct  the impression held by the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) and the  labour unions that Manitoba has already taken position as concessioners of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).

During a joint meeting between officials of Manitoba Hydro and PHCN Union Executives held  in Abuja on Thursday April 4, 2013,   the Minister enjoined the Manitoba Management to respect the rights of Nigerian workers as entrenched in the Nigerian constitution. He urged the workers to cooperate with Manitoba towards lifting the power sector to the next level by imbibing the required international practice  which the company has been known for.  "In today's world everything must be bench-marked within the dictates of international standards, hence we must provide the enabling environment at this stage of our transition for business to thrive", Nebo said.

The Minister informed Manitoba officials of the uniqueness of the sector in Nigeria, saying  "we want peace to reign, the work in the hands of Manitoba is enormous, we must have a robust transmission network, as power warehouse is a waste. So, that is why Manitoba is very important".

"Nobody takes over without settlement, workers are Nigerians like us. TCN is 100% wholly owned by the government. There is going to be no lay-off; management is done through agreement. Let no one fear. Manitoba Hydro International is under the Board of TCN which is in turn, under the Power Ministry", he explained.

On the status of GENCOs and DISCOs, the Minister indicated that the privatization programme is on-course as the preferred bidders have only paid 25%, because of the huge budgetary requirement needed to settle all workers. He added that  Government would require them to pay up 75% before final take-over.

In his contribution, the Chief Executive Officer of TCN, Don Priestsman enjoined labour unions to work with their colleagues in the company; noting that competency and determination are what would help all actors solve the challenges faced in the sector. "We need to co-operate, we have to work, so as to make productive reform for the power sector work", he emphasized.  He expressed his determination to contribute his own quota towards building a viable company that everyone would be proud of. He said there is no need for any apprehension from labour. "We are not here for any ulterior motives", he declared.

Speaking earlier, the representative of the Nigerian Labour Congress, Comrade Joe Ajaero, informed the Minister that labour is committed to making privatization work and promised that labour would not seat on the fence and watch the Power Ministry being wrongly treated.  He accused past governments of failing to address the genuine concerns of labour and cited cases of  some workers who have served for up to 30 years, but have now been transferred to a new company to  be paid by the new company. He reasoned that before the process gets completed, the transferred workers ought to be adequately compensated, otherwise it would be unacceptable to labour.

Via: Federal Ministry of Information (FMI) Nigeria