Minister Swears In REA Board, Warns Against Undue Interference

 

The Honourable Minister of State, Power, Goddy Jedy-Agba, OFR, on Thursday, in Abuja swore-in the newly appointed members of the Governing Board of the Rural Electrification Agency, (REA). 

The Minister however warned the board against undue involvement in the day-to-day running of the agency as such responsibility falls under the purview of the agency's management. 

Jedy-Agba said that "let me use this opportunity to congratulate you all on your respective appointments as members of the Rural Electrification Agency 's board. Your well deserved appointments were based on individual merits and previous contributions to nation-building. 

"My charge to the new board is to galvanize investible private and public sector funds to realize the rural electrification target of the federal government" . 

He added that "in line with the provisions of the Federal government Corporate Governance Manuals for Governing Boards, the exercise of power and kind of relationships between Management and Boards in managing an organization for enhanced performance are explicitly stated and must be adhered to accordingly".

While maintaining that the Ministry will from time to time, set a performance targets for REA and hold the Board accountable for the targets, he added that, "the board has the responsibility for measuring Management performance against targets, introducing broad policy measures, containing any adverse deviations and for supersiving management". 

The board has Abdulazeez Musa Yar’Adua as Chairman and Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of REA, Engr. Ahmad Salihijo Ahmad as secretary. 

Abdulazeez Musa Yar’Adua, Chairman of REA Board 

Other members of the Board representing the six – geopolitical zones include, Engr. Michael Oluwagbemi ( South West), Chidi Emmanuel Nwogu (South East), Catherine A. Ajibike (South South), Dr. Abdullahi Garba (North West), Dr. Abdul Umar (North East), and Mohammed Kabir Badamasuiy (rNorth Central).

The board also have representatives from  the Federal Ministry of Power, Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning as well as the Bureau for Public Enterprise (BPE).

In a related development, the appointment of Dr. Sanusi Ohiare, Executive Director, Rural Electrification Fund (REF) has been renewed for another 5-year term. 

In his acceptance speech, the Board Chairman, Mr. Yar'Adua thanked the President for the opportunity to serve and promised to work in synergy with the management and Ministry.

He said that "I want to thank the President for considering us worthy for this appointment. We're also grateful to the Honourable Ministers in charge of the Ministry of Power for their reception.

On behalf of the board, I want to assure the Honourable Minister of State of our maximum corporation to enable him achieve the goals set for him by the President through this agency ".