asha 80:

hmm do you think that might be the reason?i ask this because i do not think i have ever hear of a minister resigning because he has been fingered in corruption.if that is the case did gej force him to resign?if gej forced him to resign what does that say about the clamour that gej is not fighting corruption?

Dis Guy:


I think it will be more likely as a case of him not wanting to soil his reputation, doubt GEJ will force him to resign there are several other barefaced cases that Jonathan hasnt had a say in, i mean this is perhaps this govts chance of direct impact on the lives of nigerians. this case is not even anywhere near a corruption cases-conflict of interest that wont shake off this prof.

ping pong:

Yes. That is the reason. Conflict of interest.

asha 80: my brother i doubt that would have been enough for him to do so.i have a funny feeling that the powerful diesel guys might have been threathning him.i might be wrong though.

Professor Barth Nnaji has become a high profile casualty in the crisis in Nigeria’s power sector as President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday “accepted” his resignation as the Minister of Power with immediate effect. The development opened a new chapter in the standoff between unions of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) and the federal government over modalities for fully privatizing the electricity sector.

A statement by Presidential spokesman, Reuben Abati said President Jonathan thanked Prof. Nnaji “for his services to the nation under the present administration and wishes him well in his future endeavours.”

Nnaji’s resignation comes barely two weeks after the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) demanded his resignation citing “vituperation on the workers in the sector. NUEE also accused the then minister of engaging in fraudulent activities in the Power Sector and misinforming Nigerians to the extent of putting them under tension unnecessarily.

The union had also demanded explanation from Nnaji in connection with his role or activities in relation to issues like:

N395m collected from PHCN allegedly for the Media, for 3 months; << 40-man laptop squad no doubt got some rich pickings from this largess >>
N280m collected from PHCN allegedly for Nigeria Army;
N200m collected from PHCN allegedly for Unknown Project in the Power Ministry;
N86m collected from PHCN allegedly for a bullet -proof vehicle;
N3m collected from PHCN and donated to Enugu State University of Technology (ESUT); and
Employment of 20 people in Enugu Zone of PHCN who are his kith and kins as staff two years after the closing date of casual employment and close of PHCN biometrics exercise.

“He should also explain to Nigerians why we have been collecting Pension and Gratuity from 1972 till June 2012 based on 25 percent, and why his reform tends to short change the workers,” the statement said, adding that the development confirms the fears of workers in the power sector that Nnaji’s reform is aimed at strangulating workers.” A statement by the union leadership had said.

The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria accepted today the resignation of Barth Nnaji, the hitherto Minister of Power.

The resignation is reportedly connected to the revelations first premiered by Business Day which linked the former cabinet member to an underground bid for Afam Power Station.

Nnaji revealed to the National Council on Privatiation last Friday that his company, Geometrics, was a shareholder in a company that bid for the Afam Power Station.

Afam Power Station has an installed capacity of 775 Megawatts which is 18% of the country’s current total power generation.

The revelation came as a surprise, although many Nigerians were already aware that the privatiation of PHCN was simply an unbundling of the country’s power assets to the cabal.

However the undoing of Mr. Nnaji may have come about as a result of the dispute between himself as minister and PHCN employees.

The PHCN employees were embittered by Nnaji’s refusal to pay them adequate terminal benefits running into hundreds of billions of Naira. The conflict-of-interest being he would not want an asset he was planning to acquire to be hugely indebted to the soon-to-be disengaged PHCN staff.

More details as they emerge.

ndu_chucks: Nna if dem make Angel Gabriel minister or DG for naira, himself go steal sooner or later [color=#990000][/color]

werepeLeri: Suddenly Barth Nnaji is a good man in the eyes of NairaLand folks. Only few days ago they were shouting him down and calling him a lier for saying power has improved.

banjul01: Nnaji is a devil incarnate.How can a man cause serious confusion among the entire power holding workers of the whole federation.All his cacus will soon follow him.

cheddarking: Wow...This could actually affect the price of Garri in the Market!

JaaizTech: Hmmmm. Nigeria o Nigeria. Light was beginning to appear at the end of the tunnel; but they had to extinguish it. Lets wait and see... It is either Nnaji has soiled his hands in corruption or the govt. is just not ready for change and Fresh air. I await Sahara reporters investigative reports on this matter

ping pong:

He is involved in shady deals. Power obviously improved because his companies or interests were involved.