With the outbreak of crisis in the Uyo Business office of the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution (PHED) following what observers and staffers of the electricity distribution company described as the “high-handedness” of the Business Manager, Mr. Reginald Madu, the Civil Liberties Organization (CLO) in Akwa Ibom State has called for the immediate redeployment of the Manager of the Uyo Business Unit for his infamous roles in promoting ethnic tension and acrimony, while denigrating the good intentions of the company.
The CLO has watched the activities of Engr. Madu in relating with electricity consumers and staff of the company, and note regrettably, that his actions will create unnecessary crises that might badly dent the image of the company. You should appreciate the fact that with the emergence of the new electricity Distribution Companies (DISCOs) to distribute electricity generated and transmitted, Nigerians had looked forward to a new regime of improvement of electricity in the country. While consumers showed understanding with the improving status, and the annoying billing system, Engr. Madu’s design against Akwa Ibom indigenes working in PHED has come to a head, and cannot be further tolerated.
In March this year, civil society led by the CLO called for a Public Forum where electricity consumers within Uyo Business Unit through the PHED. The meeting was successful. Issues were explained, but real practical answers are yet to be seen. It is sad to note that the truth about the real situation of things in the area has not been told. The complaints are not just there alone, but increasing on a daily basis, though these are hidden from the parent company.
While admitting that business organizations are out to make profits, electricity goes beyond business profiteering; it is a social service with responsibility on the part of consumers to meet certain costs. Except Nigerians are informed that the government has sold them out to capitalists who have chosen to milk them dry and in the process, violate the basic essence of the government of Nigeria, to wit; the provision of the welfare and security of the people, then we will become fatalist, and leave our fate in the hands of the PHED.
The Federal Character Act, Local Content Act, sections of Chapter Two of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (CFRN) 1999 as amended and others, are federal laws and the grund norm itself, which have been desecrated and violated by Engr. Madu and the authorities of the PHED.
How can you sack the future of Akwa Ibom people whose monies (public monies) were invested in the establishment of 4POWERS Consortium Limited, owners of Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution (PHED) Company? The list below shows this shameless act of ethnic persecution.
1. Engr. Reginald Madu – Business Manager (Retained)
2. Engr. John Okafor - Manager, Distribution (Retained)
3. Mr. Obed Okafor - Manager, Marketing (Retained)
4. Ejike Maduogu - Accountant (Retained)
5. Dominic Onyemachi - Deputy Accountant (Retained)
6. Mrs Marthina Anthony – Asst. Mgr., Marketing (Retained)
7. Mrs. Frena Akpanusung – Public Relations Officer (PRO) (SACKED)
8. Mr. Elijah Utoh – Admin. Mgr. (SACKED)
From number 1 to 6 in the above list are staff members of Igbo extraction of the PHED working in the Uyo Business office. Numbers 7 and 8 are indigenes of Akwa Ibom State. This is not minding the fact that these are very experienced staff members whose contributions to the company is invaluable. Moreso, the other members of staff relieved of their position are very experienced staff members of the company who have been sacrificed on the altar of ethnic chauvinism. No Igbo person or non-indigene was sacked.
Casualization of staff of the company is a major issue that is not only condemnable locally and nationally, the international community through various treaties and conventions particularly through the International Labour Organization (ILO), also condemns it. It is sad to note that you sacked these indigenes of Akwa Ibom State in the most despicable manner, and thereafter turn around to re-engage some of these persons as Casual labour; paying them Ten Thousand Naira (N10, 000) only, per month. They are required to do even more jobs than is expected of them as full time employees of the company. This is slavery in addition to other disrespect for labour and human rights laws.
It is on record that thirteen members of staff were neither given letters of disengagement, nor letters of re-engagement. This unfortunate decision of Engr. Madu, which we understand was taken with your approval, as he claimed, has dislocated the plank of social harmony and the fraternal cohesion of the establishment, thus keeping morale at its lowest ebb.
The document you purport is a “contract” with staff contains offensive sections that we strongly believe is a violation of extant laws, and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (CFRN) 1999, as amended. We shall challenge it at the appropriate time in the law courts.
There is no way Engr. Madu, the Business manager in Uyo will claim that it was only Akwa Ibom persons who sat for the exams that failed the exams. There are evidence that even those who did not attend the tests, were adjudged to have passed; simply because they were not indigenes of Akwa Ibom State. We make bold to inform you, and we also hope to take this information to every quarters, that you superintend over a class of technocrats who have concluded plans to decimate the population of Akwa Ibom persons employed in PHED. This is violation of both Basic and Fundamental Rights. And this shall be resisted.
It should be appreciated that the Akwa Ibom State Government has taken pains to provide the necessary infrastructures like transformers, cables, poles and the manpower required to install these infrastructures through its rural electrification programmes. Today, PHED has acquired these infrastructure, and put same to use, and has been collecting hundreds of millions of Naira monthly.
This action is totally unacceptable, and we hereby call for the reposting or redeployment of Engr. Madu from Uyo Business Unit. We also call for on PHED and 4POWER Consortium Limited, to rescind their decision to sack Akwa Ibom indigenes in Uyo Business Unit. This act of ethnic purging is too glaring to be ignored.
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