Ex-Finance Minister Shamsuddeen Usman Challenges Tinubu to Sack Incompetent Ministers to Serve as Deterrent

Former Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Dr. Shamsuddeen Usman, yesterday, challenged President Bola Tinubu to match words with actions by sacking some ministers in his cabinet to serve as a deterrent to other non-performing cabinet members and government officials.

Usman made the suggestion at the opening of the Second Chronicle Roundtable, with the theme, “Tinubu Administration’s Economic and Social Agenda: How it Will Transform Nigeria,” in Abuja.

The former minister, who was the chairman of the occasion, particularly lamented the state of power in the country, and called for accountability from the current Minister of Power, Mr. Adebayo Adelabu.

However, Adelabu said Nigeria’s power generation had recorded a major improvement with additional 625 megawatts (mw) from the Zungeru Hydro Power Plant, consequently raising the wheeling capacity of the national grid to 4800mw.

The minister made the disclosure yesterday in Lagos at the inauguration and energisation, simultaneously, of the 63MVA, 132/33kV Mobile Substation at Ajah, Lagos State, and Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State.

Usman said Tinubu must follow through with his declaration to members of his cabinet during the presidential retreat that they must deliver or get sacked. He said all officials should be measured by the performance indicators they committed to.

The roundtable was attended by Vice President Kashim Shettima and other officials of the Tinubu administration.

The former minister called on Adelabu to make time-bound commitments to fixing the perennial and embarrassing collapse of the power system. He said, “It is a shame that up till today, the whole electricity system of the country collapsed.”

Usman stated that he spearheaded the development of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for public officials while in office, adding that ministers and public officials should be measured according to what they promised to do within a certain timeframe.

Using Malaysia as an example, Usman said that country had “exactly the kind of challenge we are having with power”, with one particular region being far behind in terms of availability of power.

But, according to Usman, there was one particular Malaysian power minister, “And he committed publicly that ‘I am going to fix the power problem of that region within six months or else, I will resign’.
“And because he had made that commitment, he was able to move and achieve that. Can we have a minister of power who can promise that he will stop this system collapse?

“It is a shame that up till today, the whole electricity system of the country collapses. And when we underline those performance indicators for the minister of power, we measure over a particular two-year period – this man has had so many collapses; we give him the statistics – we then say, okay, develop a programme by which you will tell us when you will bring this to an end.

“Now, if the minister of power commits to that, and if he doesn’t achieve it, he should be sacked or forced to resign. That’s the only way…”

Usman also said leadership remained a critical factor, alleging that many people are not interested in the country’s success because of their vested interests.

He said Tinubu “needs to make one or two examples based on these measures of performance that are clear objectives and can be made available to the Nigerian public so that if he drops anybody on that basis, it would be understood that he/she promised to do this and that and she is far behind doing that.
“And it would not be said that he/she is a Muslim or Christian – Igbo tribe or Yoruba and so on – which we are very fond of doing in this country.”

 However, Adelabu said there had been a major improvement in power generation in the country, with additional 625mw from the Zungeru Hydro Power Plant, in Niger State. He said this had raised the wheeling capacity of the national grid to 4800mw.

The minister spoke yesterday during the inauguration and energisation of the 63MVA, 132/33kV Mobile Substation at Ajah, Lagos State and Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, simultaneously.

The mobile substations are part of the transmission infrastructure being deployed under the Phase One of the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI), commonly known as the Nigeria-Siemens power project.

The minister said the inauguration was a testament to the government’s Renewed Hope Agenda’s commitment to transforming Nigeria’s power landscape. He said the mobile substation represented a strategic deployment aimed at improving the transmission capacity constraints by over 1300MW across the country.

He said the strategic placement of the facilities at key sites, such as Okene, Amukpe, Potiskum, Apo, Ajah, Birnin Kebbi, and others, underscored the current administration’s dedication to enhancing transmission efficiency and reliability nationwide.

Adelabu stated, “Today, as we inaugurate this 63MVA Mobile Substation in Ajah, Lagos State, we recognise its multifaceted significance. Not only does it serve as a catalyst for capacity enhancement within our transmission network, but it also stands as a beacon of hope for the businesses and households reliant on uninterrupted power supply.

“Furthermore, the versatility of this mobile substation cannot be overstated. From addressing major load centres to serving as a stopgap measure during maintenance and emergencies, its flexibility ensures swift responses to fluctuating power demands, thereby contributing to uninterrupted service delivery.”

In tandem with the unveiling of the facility, the minister, who at the Lagos event, remotely inaugurated a 60-MVA Power Transformer in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, stressed that together, this equipment would boost Nigeria’s transmission wheeling capacity by 123MW, thereby paving the way for enhanced electricity supply for all Nigerians.

He stated that these endeavours signified more than just infrastructural development, explaining that they represent a pivotal step towards revitalising the country’s power sector and reaffirming government’s commitment to improving the lives of the citizens.

The minister emphasised that the PPI embodied the government’s strategic approach to tackling Nigeria’s longstanding challenge of unreliable power supply.

With an installed power generation capacity of 14 gigawatts (GW), he said it was imperative that the country maximised operational capacity to meet the needs of the growing population.

Adelabu expressed his happiness with the collaborative efforts between the German government and the Nigerian government under the PPI, which he noted promised to deliver reliable power supply to every corner of the country.

He added, “As we celebrate the activation of this mobile substation, let us not only acknowledge its technological prowess but also reflect on the socio-economic impact for our communities. Enhanced power infrastructure serves as a catalyst for industrial growth, job creation, and improved standards of living.

“In conclusion, let me extend my gratitude to all stakeholders involved in making this project a reality. Together, we embark on a journey towards a brighter future for Nigeria, one powered by innovation, resilience, and collective determination.

“I, therefore, call on the management of the FGN Power Company and all other stakeholders in the power sector to work with extra determination to ensure that the timelines, which we have set for this project, are achieved.”

In his remarks, Managing Director of FGN Power Company Limited, Mr. Kenny Anuwe, stated, “As we stand on the cusp of a transformative era in Nigeria’s power sector, FGN Power Company remains steadfast in our commitment to driving progress and delivering tangible improvements in electricity access for all Nigerians.

“With unwavering dedication and collaboration, we are poised to unlock the nation’s full potential and illuminate a brighter future for generations to come.”

James Emejo and Peter Uzoho

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