Kaduna Electric Announces 10% increment for Staff
Kaduna Electric has officially announced a 10% increase in salaries across all staff categories, effective this month. Dr. Umar Hashidu, the Chief Executive Officer, made this announcement during a recent meeting with the management team.
The salary adjustment comes as a strategic response to the imperative of motivating the staff, aimed at elevating the company’s overall performance despite the considerable challenges it currently faces. Dr. Hashidu underscored that the decision also addresses the prevalent cost of living crisis in the country.
Furthermore, Dr. Hashidu emphasized the Board and Management’s conviction that this salary increment will serve as a catalyst, inspiring staff to redouble their efforts to navigate the company through its current challenges. He reiterated the Board’s unwavering commitment to prioritizing staff welfare as highlighted by the Board’s Chairperson, Ms. Rahila Thomas, when she led other Board members on a visit to the company recently. He hinted that this initial salary adjustment is part of a broader initiative.
Dr. Hashidu acknowledged the precarious state of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI), describing it as being on life support. Notably, Kaduna Electric faces challenges in meeting market obligations and has shown a lackluster performance in compliance with NERC performance indices.
Despite these challenges, Dr. Hashidu expressed confidence that the issues confronting Kaduna Electric are surmountable with collective effort. He urged all staff members to approach their duties with diligence, citing the positive growth trajectory observed in energy sales during January as a promising indicator. Dr. Hashidu encouraged staff to maintain this momentum until the company achieves a positive turnaround.
The Managing Director/CEO of Kaduna Electric, Dr. Umar Abubakar Hashidu has attributed the abysmal power generation in the Country over the years to severe liquidity challenges facing the power sector arising from poor remittance by Nigerian electricity consumers.
Dr. Abubakar Hashidu made the assertion today in Kaduna when he received the Chief Medical Director, National Eye Center, Kaduna, Dr. Aminatu AbdurRahman in his office.
He said because of the widespread default by electricity consumers across the Country, the Distribution Companies have been unable to discharge their market obligations, thereby denying all players in the sector of the needed resources for adequate investment in network rehabilitation, expansion and infrastructure upgrade.
Dr. Hashidu, who took time to explain the dynamics of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry, from gas suppliers, generation, down to the Distribution Companies, disclosed that there is renewed effort by all relevant stakeholders to change the narrative.
He warned that “Nigerians must collectively accept the fact that those who continuously default or deliberately evade payment of their electricity bills constitute the clog on the wheel of the nation’s power sector development”.
He assured the National Eye Center CMD of the Company’s resolve to ensure sustainable improvement in service delivery and prompt response to all their demands.
“We are adopting new mechanisms and deploying relevant technology to increase visibility and ensure that our staff live up to their responsibilities at all times”, he said.
Earlier in her remarks, the Ag. Chief Medical Director, National Eye Center, Kaduna, Dr. Aminatu AbdurRahman expressed deep appreciation to the Management of Kaduna Electric for what she described as “uncommon consideration being given to the Center.
Dr. Aminatu AbdurRahman, who disclosed that the National Eye Center is the only tertiary eye care institution in Nigeria, promised to ensure that the National Eye Center’s obligations to Kaduna Electric are discharged in accordance with the agreed terms.
In a related development, the Managing Director/CEO of Kaduna Electric, Dr. Umar Abubakar Hashidu has assured the military high command of the unwavering commitment of the Company to continue to provide steady electricity services to military formations in its franchise.
Dr. Umar Hashidu gave the assurance when the Commander of the Nigerian Air force, 453 Base Services Group, Kaduna, Air Commodore Mohammed Adamu Garba paid him a courtesy visit in his office today.
He disclosed that Kaduna Electric shall continue to give sufficient consideration to the Airforce Base and all other military formations in its franchise given the critical importance of such establishments to national security.
“As we pride ourselves as the home of the armed forces, we are delighted to be part of the success stories of the military and shall remain undaunted in our commitment”.
In his address, the Commander, 453 Base Services Group, Air Commodore, Mohammed Adamu Garba thanked the Managing Director for granting audience to his team at short notice and pleaded for more collaboration with Kaduna Electric in addressing some lingering electricity challenges in the Base.