‘Power show’ in Power Ministry as Minister ‘suspends’ Managing Director who resigned October 7

“Strange things are happening here. Somebody resigned in October and you are now claiming to have suspended her in December. Is that logical? Where is that done?”
With the above, an official of the Ministry of Power, who does not want her name in print, reacted on Tuesday to the ‘suspension’ of Mrs. Damilola Ogunbiyi as the Managing Director of Rural Electrification Agency (REA) by the Power Minister, Sale Mamman.
Mamman had ordered the indefinite suspension of Mrs. Ogunbiyi on Tuesday “for some infractions” but the source, who is a senior official of the ministry, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to, urgently, ask Mamman the real reason for his action because “everything he has done is not logical”.
She disclosed that Mrs. Ogunbiyi tendered her resignation on October 7, giving three months notice.
The notice was addressed to President Muhammadu Buhari through the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, and copies were sent to the Minister of Power, Minister of State for Power, Permanent Secretary of the Power Ministry, and the chairman of the REA Board.
She declared: “How do you suspend someone who already resigned? What sort of power show is that? The minister just exposed himself as administratively weak with the announcement that someone who resigned months ago is now suspended indefinitely.
“Also, as Managing Director, she did not report to the Power Minister directly but to the Minister of State for Power, Goddy Jedy Agba. REA reports to the Minister of State, not the substantive minister as shown in the SGF circular. So, with the so-called suspension, the minister has just embarrassed himself.
“The impression he is creating in the ministry is that he doesn’t like women and this is unfortunate”.
Mamman also ordered the immediate step-down of Dr. Marilyn Amobi, Managing Director of Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Company (NBET).
Mr Aaron Artimas, the Special Adviser to the Minister on Media and Communication, announced the decision in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday.
Artimas said that the decision was continuation of the reorganisation/sanitation in the Ministry of Power.
He said that the minister directed that the decision should take effect immediately.
“In view of this, the minister has also directed the constitution of a five-man investigative committee to look into the myriads of complaints against the MD/CEO.
“This is with the view to restoring sanity in the management of the company. Consequently, she is to handover to the most senior director in the organisation”, he said.