Buhari Overrules ‘Embarrassing’ Minister Of Power On Dismissal Of NBET Boss

Sale Mamman, the Minister of Power must be scratching his head after President Muhammadu Buhari reversed overruled him on the dismissal of Marilyn Amobi as the Managing Director of the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Company Limited (NBET).

A directive from the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) reversed the dismissal while also moving the agency from the ministry of power to the ministry of finance.

In December 2019, Sale Mamman, minister of power, asked Amobi to step down with immediate effect in order to “restore sanity” in the management of the agency.

Presidency sources told THE WHISTLER that Mamman’s actions since taking over the ministry of power from Raji Fashola have become cause of concern and worry for the presidency.

In a recent angry reaction to criticism of the power minister, the minister inadvertently rubbished the Buhari administration’s effort on power since 2015, claiming that despite huge funds pumped into power in the last five years there was little to show for it.

In a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Aaron Artimas, the minister had said: “All right thinking Nigerians are aware that since assuming power in 2015, President Muhammadu Buhari has poured billions of Naira and attracted huge investments into the power sector with the aim of improving the generation and distribution of electricity to Nigerians.

“Nigerians should be asking why there was not much improvement in the sector after such concerted efforts by the government and not to encourage “wailers” to sulk over public officers who had been in the ministry for over four years without tangible results.”

Although he did not mention Fashola by name, many also saw it as an attack on his immediate predecessor who was relieved of the power portfolio during the last cabinet reshuffle.

The counter directive from President Buhari immediately reverts NBET back to the status-quo. Nnaemeka Ewelukwa, a general manager of the agency, who was asked to assumed office as the acting managing director of NBET has been asked to step aside for Amobi to resume her former position.

On Tuesday, Buhari also overruled the minister on the suspension of Damilola Ogunbiyi as the Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), and instead accepted her resignation.

Before her purported suspension, Ogunbiyi had tendered her resignation to take up a job as the UN special representative for sustainable energy and CEO of Sustainable Energy for All (SEforAll).