The Federal Government of Nigeria did what has been
considered extremely necessary in its ongoing power reform programme
when it last week granted Canadian firm, Manitoba Hydro International
(MHI) absolute control of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).
THISDAY gathered Monday in Abuja from sources at the National Council
on Privatisation (NCP) that the Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo,
has finally signed off the controversial "schedule of delegated
authority" for MHI to immediately commence operations at TCN.
Nebo accordingly signed and handed MHI the "schedule of delegated authority" last Friday in Abuja.
The "schedule of delegated authority" grants Manitoba authority over
operations of TCN in relations to Market Operations, System Operations,
Transmission Service Provider, National Control Centre and Information
Technology.
THISDAY also gathered that the newly constituted board for TCN will
be inaugurated by Nebo Tuesday in Abuja, perhaps, bringing to a close
what has been considered an eventful path to Manitoba's assumption of
duties at TCN.
Government has retained ownership of TCN which is part of successor
companies created off the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria
(PHCN) in the ongoing power sector liberalisation exercise.
It contracted Manitoba in July 2012 to manage operations of TCN at a
contract sum of $23.7 million for three years; the contract which passed
through a competitive bidding process entails Manitoba repositioning
TCN to effectively discharge its responsibilities in the evolving
Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).
However, the contract was subjected to various degrees of
controversies leading to its purported cancellation and subsequent
revalidation late 2012 by President Goodluck Jonathan whose actions were
largely informed by an advice from the Bureau of Public Procurement
(BPP).
The BPP had charged the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) of
mis-procuring the management contract; an accusation the BPE vehemently
denied citing extant laws that support its processes and actions.
Apart from the BPP/BPE disagreement, the management contract was also
subjected to some forms of manipulations following alleged attempts by
officials of the ministry of power to take-off certain aspects of it
from Manitoba.
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