Connect with us

News

TCN Suspends Power Firms For Breaching Market Rules

Published

on

The Transmission Company of Nigeria has announced the suspension of three electricity distribution companies for breach of market rules.

The affected companies are APLE Electric Limited, Kano and Kaduna Electricity Distribution Companies.

Mrs Ndidi Mbah, TCN’s General Manager, Public Affairs, in a statement in Abuja on Friday, said that these rules govern and sanitise the Nigerian electricity supply industry.

Advertisement

According to her, the Market Operator is mindful of the need to ensure the continued sustenance of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry, which requires strict adherence to market rules and the application of sanctions where necessary.

READ ALSO: Electricity: TCN, DisCos Trade Blames Over Sector’s Poor Performance

She said that due diligence was observed by the MO before issuing the suspension/disconnection order, which is in accordance with procedures of the rules guiding the market.

Advertisement

”This is to ensure the preservation of the market and that non-compliant participants are held accountable for their actions.

”The APLE Electric Limited was found to be in non-compliance with the Market Rules for not having adequate Bank Guaranty and for incomplete payments of APL’s MO’s invoices from September 2022 to February 2023.

”As per the market rules, the MO first sent a request for a bank guarantee to APLE on November 29, 2022,” she said.

Advertisement

Mbah said that the company failed to provide the required bank guarantee, consequently, a Notice of Event of Default was issued to APLE on Dec 7, 2022, for incomplete payment of issued invoices.

READ ALSO: 2023: Insecurity, Erratic Electricity, Fuel Scarcity Persist As APC Seeks Fresh Mandate

Following the notice of event of default, a Notice of Intent to Issue a suspension order was issued on Dec. 14, 2022, based on the market rules.

Advertisement

“APLE requested a hearing, which was held online on Dec. 20, 2022, where APLE was given an opportunity to show just cause why it should not be issued a Suspended/Disconnected Order.

“After the hearing, a 14-business day notice was issued on March 21 in three (3) national daily newspapers (Daily Trust, Guardian & Thisday) as required by the market rules. Thereafter, a suspension order was issued on April 19, which required APLE to cure its defaults,” she said.

Mbah said that the disconnection order was carried out on April 20 in line with the market rules.

Advertisement

She added that this order resulted in the disconnection of the Feeders within the APLE franchise area until such a time that they provide the required bank guarantee and settle their outstanding invoices with the MO.

READ ALSO: Reverse Unlawful Electricity Tariff Hike, Group Tells Buhari

Mbah also said that the Kaduna and Kano DisCos were equally found to be in non-compliance with the market rules for not having adequate bank guarantees and for incomplete payments of their MO invoices for the time-line January 2020 to February 2023.

Advertisement

She said that both companies were sent a request for their bank guarantees in line with the market rules, on Feb. 16, 2022, and they failed to provide the required bank guarantees.

Consequently, a notice of an event of default was issued on March 2, 2022, for incomplete payment of invoices,” she said.

Mbah stated that the notice of the event was followed by a notice of intent to issue a suspension order, issued on May 9, 2022.

Advertisement

Both DisCos requested for hearing which were held on May 31, 2022, (KEDCO) and June 2, 2022 (KAEDCO), where both DisCos were given an opportunity to show just cause not to be suspended/disconnected.

“After the hearing, a 14-business day notice was issued on March 21, 2023, in three national daily newspapers (Daily Trust, Guardian & Thisday newspapers), as required by the market rules.”

NAN

Advertisement

News

Bauchi Govt Sanctions 4 Senior Officers For Gross Misconduct

Published

on

The Bauchi state Civil Service Commission (CSC) has sanctioned four senior officers for gross misconduct in the discharge of their service.

This is contained in a statement made available to newsmen in Bauchi on Friday by Mr Saleh Umar, the Public Relations Officer of the Bauchi state Civil Service Commission.

According to him, the decision, which was made during the Commission’s plenary session, was in its continued effort to sanitise the State’s Civil Service.

Advertisement

He listed the names of the officers that were sanctioned to include; Garba Hussaini, a Director, Education and former Provost, Haruna Umar, a Deputy Director, Administration and Human Resources.

READ ALSO:Bauchi Board Laments Low Teacher Turnouts In Training Exercise

Others included; Umar Yusuf, Chief Executive Officer (Account)- Bursar and Mohammed Usman, Chief Clerical Officer – Cashier, all attached to Bill and Melinda Gate College of Health Sciences Technology in Ningi Local Government Area of the state.

Advertisement

Umar explained that the interdicted officers have been placed on 50 per cent of their salaries with effect from 28th October, 2025 until the end of the full investigation.

The Commission’s decision was taken to allow further investigation into the allegations laid against the officers.

“The Officers were found guilty of misconduct that contradict Bauchi State Public Service Regulations – 0327 (x) and (xxii) and interdicted under rules 0329 (i), (ii) and (iii) to further distance them from their duty posts for seamless and smooth investigation.

Advertisement

READ ALSO:Bauchi Begins Production Of Exercise Books, Chalks For Schools

“In a light-hearted part, the Commission has promoted 21 officers to their next grades of Deputy Chief Librarian, Assistant Chief Librarians and Principal Librarians to grade levels 15, 14, 13, 12 and 10 respectively.

“Others were Assistant Chief Executive Officer and Chief Confidential Secretary on grade levels 13 and 14,” said Umar.

Advertisement

The Public Relations Officer added that Dr. Ibrahim Muhammad, the Chairman of the Commission, reiterated the Commission’s unwavering commitment to the rules of law under his watch.

He noted that while promising to continue to uphold integrity, transparency and fairness in the commission, the Chairman also expressed dismay over the nonchalant attitude of some Civil Servants not knowing the disciplinary procedures in civil service and its consequences.

Chairman also called on all workers to be conversant with the do and don’t in carrying out their assignments to avoid unnecessary offense,” he said.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

News

Don’t Take Law Into Your Hands – NYSC Warns Corps Members

Published

on

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has warned all corps members serving their fatherland not to take laws into their own hands during and after their service year.

Mr Umoren Kufre, the Bauchi state Coordinator of NYSC gave the warning during the swearing-in ceremony of the 2025 Batch ‘C’ stream 1 corps members at the state’s NYSC permanent orientation camp, Wailo in Ganjuwa Local Government Area of the state on Friday.

“I urge you to obey all the rules and regulations governing the NYSC. In case you notice any irregularity, do not take the laws into your hands.

Advertisement

READ ALSO:NYSC Deploys 1,900 Corps Members To Bauchi State

“Always ensure that you follow the proper channel of communication to express your grievances.

“Let me assure you again that management will ensure that the basic amenities you need in the camp are provided for you. Your safety and comfort remains our utmost priority,” he said.

Advertisement

Kofre, who explained that a total of 2,050 corps members were posted to the state for the one year compulsory service, said there has not been any serious problem since the commencement of the course and the prospective corps members were participating actively in all camp activities.

He appreciated Gov. Bala Mohammed of Bauchi state for his continuous support to the scheme in the state as well as the complete renovation of Corps Members hostels and the construction of a brand new Multipurpose Hall in the camp.

READ ALSO: PDP NWC Suspends Legal Adviser, Anyanwu, Others Amid Convention Crisis

Advertisement

The NYSC boss, however, called on the governor to help them rebuild the part of the camp perimeter fence that collapsed about a year ago.

Declaring the orientation camp exercises open, Gov. Bala Mohammed urged the corp members to take the lead and advocate for national development and transformation.

Represented by Mr Mohammed Umar, the State’s Head of Service, Mohammed called on them to take the noble call with utmost seriousness and commit themselves to achieving the scheme’s objectives of national unity and development.

Advertisement

While administering the oath of allegiance, Justice Rabi Umar, the Chief Judge of the state who was represented by Abdullahi Yau, Deputy Registrar, High Court of Justice, charged the corps members to maintain law and order towards the peaceful orientation exercises

Continue Reading

News

17 Nigerian States Implementing CPS As PenCom Assets Rise To Over N26trn

Published

on

The National Pension Commission hassaid only 17 Nigerian states are currently implementing the Contributory Pension Scheme as its assets rose to over N26 trillion in September 2025.

Ms Omolola Oloworaran disclosed this during an event in Benin, Edo State.

Oloworaran, who was represented by the Commission’s Inspectorate Commissioner, Chief Samuel Chigozie Uwandu, stressed that CPS plays a vital role in national economic development.

Advertisement

READ ALSO:Christian Genocide: Back Nigeria CPC Redesignation With Action, Nigerian Bishop Begs Trump

According to her, CPS has evolved beyond a retirement policy and has become a symbol of a national shift towards financial discipline and long-term planning.

Nigerian Newspapers: 10 things you need to know Friday morning ‎
Oloworaran noted that the scheme illustrates “a decisive break from past dependencies on state-provided old-age financial security to a new culture of retirement savings and forward planning.

Advertisement

READ ALSO:

A contract between the worker and the employer, with the assurance that a lifetime of labour would be rewarded with financial security in old age.”

“Seventeen states out of the 36 states in the country are currently implementing the Contributory Pension Scheme. Twelve states have not started at all, while seven states are at various stages of establishing their pension bureaux.”

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending