Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja
West Power & Gas (WPG), the parent company of Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC), has fired the embattled former Managing Director and Chief Executive of the power distribution company, Dr Tinuade Sanda, weeks after she was asked to return to the firm (WPG).
But on its website last night, WPG which still listed Sanda as its Chief Finance Officer, said the consortium of local businesses owns a 60 per cent stake and controlling interest in Eko Disco.
However, THISDAY gathered that Sanda, who has been in the eye of the storm, following a boardroom crisis at the distribution company, was relieved of her duties at WPG via a letter dated April 17, 2024 and signed by the company’s Chair, Charles Momoh.
With the latest development, close followers of the events that culminated in Sanda’s removal are hopeful that peace will eventually return to the company which mainly supplies electricity to Lekki, Ibeju, Lagos Island, Orile, Ijora, Apapa, Mushin, Festac, Ojo, Ajah and Agbara.
The first woman to hold the chief executive position since her appointment in 2022, THISDAY gathered that Sanda joined WPG around 2013, holding several positions at the company before she was seconded to EKEDC, where she was initially deputy MD and then substantive CEO.
“We refer to your contract of employment dated April 1, 2022, signed between you and WPG Limited.
“We hereby advise you that your services are no longer required and accordingly your employment with WPG Ltd is hereby terminated effective April 17, 2024, in accordance with clause 10.2 of the Contract.
“WPG Ltd is obligated to pay you three months salary in lieu of notice and hereby advise you that the due amounts have been credited to your account.
“You are requested to kindly return all company’s properties (whether WPG or EKEDP) in your possession which will include but not limited to laptops, identity card, and status car upon your receipt of this letter. We wish you all the best in your future endeavours,” the letter titled, ‘Termination of Contract of Employment,’ stressed.
Earlier, noting that he was acting on the strength of a letter from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Chairman of the Board of Directors, Dere Otubu, had directed Sanda to leave her position as MD/CEO of EKEDP, since she was seconded from WPG.
The decision led to what appeared like factions within the board, with some members supporting Sanda’s exit and others faulting the chairman’s directive.
“We have received a NERC directive dated March 21, 2024, which instructed Eko Electricity Distribution Plc inter alia… that all staff working for the utility are employed by the utility directly, bound by applicable service conditions that are applicable to the employees of the utility and paid through the utilities payroll.
“The Disco is obligated to obey these directives due to the powers of NERC as stipulated in the Electricity Act 2023. In compliance with the above directive, all seconded staff from WPG Ltd are being released by Eko Electricity Distribution Plc and returned to WPG Ltd.
“You are hereby relieved of your role, office, and position at Eko Electricity Distribution Plc effective immediately and returned to WPG Ltd your employer,” a March 25, 2024, memo by the chairman to Sanda read.
However, before the NERC directive, a crisis which was triggered by the issue of suspected ghost workers was already rocking the power distribution firm, after a few employees were alleged to have been complicit in siphoning funds and paying the ghost workers.
Dissatisfied with the handling of the matter by the leadership of the board, Sanda and other interests were said to have pushed further, writing petitions to the Bureau of Public Enterprises and industry regulator, NERC, a decision that riled some members of the board. She was eventually removed from the position.
The distribution company thereafter announced the appointment of Mrs. Rekhiat Momoh, as its Acting Chief Executive Officer after redeploying Sanda back to WPG from where she has also now been fired.
