Jos – Mrs Veronica N. Osuhor, the Managing Director, Independent System Operator (ISO), of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), has resigned her appointment.
Osuhor’s resignation was contained in a letter dated Nov. 23 was addressed to the Minister of Power, Works and Housing.
Some TCN sources said there have been some disagreements between Manitoba Hydro International Limited (MHIL), the Canadian firm that is the management contractor of the TCN and some of Nigerian counterparts in the team.
The Managing Director, who still has three and a half years of her four-year contract remaining, said in her letter that she opted to resign “following recent directive which indicates that my current role will be to understudy a MHIL designate at a lower level”.
Some TCN sources confirmed that she was forced out of the system following the reversal of her appointment from Managing Director to Director.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) learnt that Osuhor, who was appointed the Managing Director (System Operations and Market Operations) of the TCN, in May, was recently directed to reverse to her former status.
The reversal order also affected other executives of the unbundled TCN comprising Transmission Service Provider and the ISO, sources said.
NAN learnt that the decision was to allow MHIL, management contractor of TCN, to regain control of the TCN.
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NAN learnt with the new development, MHIL was given powers to pick a new managing director.
Consequently, MHIL appointed a junior officer as managing director to replace Osuhor.
“For Osuhor and other stakeholders in the power sector, the development was rather surprising because the MHIL and the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), initially insisted that a Nigerian counterpart ISO was not expected to exist,’’ a source said.
The source recalled that Osuhor had, over time, disagreed with MHIL over various issues one of which related to tax payment, a situation that pitted her against the Canadian firm.
The situation got worse some months ago when Osuhor’s salaries and those of the entire workforce of the ISO were stopped, sparking off a dispute with the workers.
NAN further learnt that the relationship with MHIL soured even more when Osuhor, under pressure by the staff demanding their salaries, opened a separate bank account after seeking and obtaining the nod of the ministry of power.
The MHIL management had interpreted the opening of the account without resort to it as an affront by an officer that was supposed to work under it.
Osuhor also incurred the anger of MHIL when she insisted on obeying the Central Bank of Nigeria’s directive to pay the Canadian firm its duties in naira, instead of the dollars it asked for.
Last month, the firm, in a letter signed by its Project Director, Cassandra Siemens, agreed to receive its payment in naira but stressed that the positions was a temporary measure and would not be accepted in the future.
A top source MHIL, who spoke in confidence, told NAN that the firm found Osuhor very efficient “but very stubborn and uncontrollable.
“She (Osuhor), works very hard; she is okay and effective, but uncontrollable and disrespectful,” the source told NAN.
A Ministry source confirmed the rift.
“For some time now, the ministry has been aware of lingering crisis between the Nigerian and MHIL counterpart with the TCN.
“Osuhor has insisted on her principles and I am not surprised that she has opted to leave rather than compromise her personal standards,” the official said.
However, a NERC official said “ I am not sure why she has chosen to resign but what we hear they have always seen her as “the tough and uncompromising’’.
Reacting to the development, the Managing Director of TCN, Mr Mack Kast, said that it was “just an organisation matter”.
“When one is appointed, the organisation decides who one should answer to.
“We have several managers that the board could appoint to anywhere depending on where the organisation feels is most suitable to one’s capabilities.
“MHIL does not determine where employees should be; the board decides that.”
Commenting on MHIL’s demand for payment in dollars, he said that the issue had been resolved and payment done.
“It is just a matter of currency. Invoices can be paid in dollars or naira, there is no difference. It is not an issue at all.”
He said that the MIHL was happy with the progress it was making and rejected suggestions that the MHIL had any direct disagreement with Osuhor.
“She is a very fine person. She did a good job for TCN and contributed so much to the industry.
“But if she decides to move, we must concede to her the right to determine where and what she wants to be in the future. People can decide any day to do something else. That is not unexpected.”
On the issue of refunds of salaries by disengaged staff, he said that “the matter has been resolved and taken care; everybody is satisfied”. (NAN)