*Sanda accepts removal, pledges assistance to new boss
Peter Uzoho
In an attempt to douse tension amongst staff following a recent change of management at the Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC), the company’s board, yesterday, stated that its position on the leadership change remained.
Chairman of Eko Disco, Mr. Dere Otubu, stated this in a message addressed to the Acting Chief Executive Officer of EKEDC, Mrs Rekhiat Momoh, and members of staff of the utility firm.
The chairman’s message came just as the ousted Chief Executive Officer of Eko Disco, Dr Tinuade Sanda, has accepted her removal and expressed readiness to support the new CEO.
Of recent, Eko Disco has been grappling with internal crisis following the boardroom politics and power play rocking the company, and which eventually led to the termination of appointment of Sanda as the CEO alongside some other senior officers of the company.
In the message to the CEO and members of staff, Otubu said it had become necessary to send out the message in view of the misinformation being disseminated to the public.
He said nothing has changed since the last message he sent to the staff and the public, adding that no staff of WPG has been returned to Eko Disco and that the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has not nullified any of the actions taken by the Board of Eko Disco.
He said all staff in acting roles following the withdrawal of WPG secondees including the Acting CEO, Momoh were to continue doing their work.
“Following my earlier message to you in respect of the above, it has become necessary to send out this message in view of the misinformation being disseminated to the public.
“Kindly note that nothing has changed since the last message to you. No staff of WPG has been returned to Eko Disco. NERC has not nullified any of the actions taken by the Board of Eko Disco.
“All staff in acting roles following the withdrawal of WPG secondees including our Acting CEO Mrs Rekhiat Momoh are to continue doing their work.”
For greater clarity, Otubu said the reason for the withdrawal of the WPG seconded staff was to allow for the process of employment of any qualified staff directly in Eko Disco.
He explained that the decision of the board was that all staff members of Eko Disco would have the same conditions of service and be under the same payroll structure.
“There’ll therefore be the harmonisation of the salary structure so that there will be no further earnings dichotomy. This process is still ongoing and you will be informed when it is completed.
“Kindly continue to do your work without any concern or hindrance as what is being planted in the papers is only intended to cause mischief.
“The Board of Directors of Eko Disco remains the highest organ of governance of the Disco. Therefore, only statements from the Chairman acting on behalf of the Board should be countenanced.
“We have great confidence in all of you to perform your roles effectively and take the company to greater heights. We, therefore, urge everyone to keep doing their duties diligently,” the chairman added.
In another statement, the Otubu-led Eko Disco disclaimed what it described as ‘Unapproved Publication’ by the the Director, Chairman Legal & Regulatory Committee of EKEDC, Mr. Babor Egeregor.
Egeregor had in a recent statement rebuffed the termination of Sanda’s appointment as the company’s CEO.
He accused Otubu of launching a vengeful revenge against Sanda for escalating the alleged fraud and issuing queries against one of his protégés, whom he has desperately swore to protect by all means.
Egeregor, however, insisted that Sanda remained the CEO of Eko Disco.
But in response to the statement, the board in a statement dated March 13, 2024, said it did not and had not authorised Egeregor to issue any statement or press release on its behalf.
The company said, “We, therefore, urge the general public to regard all communications from him as his personal views and does not represent the position of the Board of EKEDP.
“The Board of ‘EKEDP’ hereby reaffirms that only communications and press releases signed by the Chairman, acting on behalf of the Board is authentic and represents the position of the company on any matter.
“We kindly urge the media houses to be wary about publishing statements from unconfirmed sources or unauthorised persons which may be aimed at misleading the public.”
Meanwhile, Sanda has accepted her removal as the CEO of Eko Disco and has expressed her willingness to assist the new boss in her duty.
In a message to Momoh, who was until her latest appointment, the Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) of Eko Disco, Sanda informed her of her removal and the ratification of the decision by the board.
She urged Momoh to take charge and supervise the team, urging the new CEO to call upon her for clarification whenever she needed.
Sanda’s message read: “Dear CCO, further to our earlier conversation today, kindly note that I have been recalled/released of my role by the Chairman, EKEDP and the decision ratified at today’s board meeting.
“As the most senior person, kindly take charge and supervise the team. For any clarification on any matter, pending when I conclude on my handover noted, kindly reach out. Wish you the best.”
