Nigeria - President Jonathan Fires Director General Of Privatization Bureau
https://nigeriaafrica1.blogspot.com/2012/11/nigeria-president-jonathan-fires.html
The Nigerian Federal Government has sacked, with immediate effect, the Director General (DG) of the Bureau for Public Enterprises which is directly responsible for overseeing the power privatization process.
Bolanle Onogoruwa, was directed to hand over to Benjamin Ezra Dikki, the most Senior Director in the Bureau. Mr. Dikki will hold the position in an acting capacity.
The changes were contained in a statement signed by the Senior Special Assistant (Media and Publicity) to the Vice President, Umar Sani.
Earlier this month, President Jonathan had hastily announced the cancellation of a power transmission contract between Nigeria and Canadian firm Manitoba Hydro. He later reversed his decision days after, a move that put the power privatization back on track temporarily.
The Senate had ceased to recognize Mrs. Onagoruwa as DG, and called for her removal for alleged wrongdoings.
It is not yet clear if the government will also remove Mrs Aruma Oteh, the DG of the Securities and Exchange Commission, whose removal has also been demanded by the House of Representatives.
Africa's most populous nation of more than 160 million holds the world's ninth-largest gas reserves but is blighted by power cuts which last several hours a day, forcing businesses and individuals who can afford them to rely on diesel generators.
Economists say a successful power privatization could push growth in Africa's second largest economy into double digits, from around 6.5 percent now. Yet critics question the integrity of the process, which looks set to leave much of the sector in the hands of powerful local oligarchs with scant experience.
The changes were contained in a statement signed by the Senior Special Assistant (Media and Publicity) to the Vice President, Umar Sani.
Earlier this month, President Jonathan had hastily announced the cancellation of a power transmission contract between Nigeria and Canadian firm Manitoba Hydro. He later reversed his decision days after, a move that put the power privatization back on track temporarily.
The Senate had ceased to recognize Mrs. Onagoruwa as DG, and called for her removal for alleged wrongdoings.
It is not yet clear if the government will also remove Mrs Aruma Oteh, the DG of the Securities and Exchange Commission, whose removal has also been demanded by the House of Representatives.
Africa's most populous nation of more than 160 million holds the world's ninth-largest gas reserves but is blighted by power cuts which last several hours a day, forcing businesses and individuals who can afford them to rely on diesel generators.
Economists say a successful power privatization could push growth in Africa's second largest economy into double digits, from around 6.5 percent now. Yet critics question the integrity of the process, which looks set to leave much of the sector in the hands of powerful local oligarchs with scant experience.
