MEET THE STAFF SERIES

We Need Attitudinal Rebirth Among the Staff...Labbo

CCD: May we meet you sir?

IL: My name is Ibrahim Labbo, I graduated from Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Islamic Studies. I am also a member of the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM).  I am presently the Feeder Manager, NTA/Rinjin Sambo, Sokoto Regional Office.

CCD: You assumed duty as the Feeder Manager, NTA a few months ago, what  has been the experience so far?

IL: Well, I will say so far so good; but then there is still space for improvement. We have done a lot in terms of improving the quality of supply to our customers and reducing to the barest minimum our response time to customers complaints. We are also critically looking at ways to increase our market size. All in all, handling this office is quite interesting and challenging. Almost on daily basis you come across various categories of customers, with different needs and all of them expecting to get prompt attention; you have to be tactful and diplomatic to ensure that all are attended to. As you are well aware, customer satisfaction is our priority at all times.

CCD: Let talk about  your primary assignment and challenges therein?

IL Well, my primary responsibility as the Feeder Manager, is to effectively manage my team so as to ensure that 100%  performance in cash collection is achieved and also ensure that customers complaints are resolved within shortest time possible. Mine is largely to guide the business activities of the NTA feeder for optimal performance. I also ensure rational and judicious allocation of resources across the various units and sub units.

CCD: Meeting our collection target has been the major challenge facing the Regional Office, how do boost the collection?

IL: Honestly, there is need to increase our market size and that can be achieved through continuous enumeration exercise of our customers; the more customers are captured into the billing system, the more revenue to be realized. Concerted efforts should also be made to block leakages like energy theft and meter bypass. I can say the Company has done well by forming enforcement and assessment teams; this will yield positive result; it is step in meeting our Regional Office target and the Company as a whole.

CCD: what is your customer population

IL: We have 3036 customers and as I earlier stated, we hope to hit higher figures through enumeration in the near future.

CCD: What are your plans for NTA Feeder?

IL: My plan is to make NTA Feeder number in the whole of Kaduna Electricity distribution Company. I will like to set a record that would be exemplary and also ensure that we get our revenue hundred percent or even more. As a green feeder,  our strategy is to ensure 100% collection of the current charges and at least 15-20 % of outstanding debt.

CCD: What are your achievements so far?

IL: Well, I can say that my major achievement as the attitudinal rebirth among the staff; there is significant change in the altitude of my staff and a more positive attitude towards work and my staff are able to work more with minimal supervision.

CCD: what is your staff strength?

IL: We have a total of 12 staff members, 5 are Sales Representatives, 5 Power Technicians, 1 CCR, 1 cashier

CCD: What would you like to be remembered for?

IL: I want to be remembered as one who put in the best years of his life to enable the organization succeeds.

CCD: What is your final words to a our readers?

IL: Pray to God and always do your best.

MEET THE STAFF SERIES

"As a staff i pay my bills to set good example for others"

Sani garba Technical manager kebbi AO

 

  

CCD:  Can you tell us about yourself briefly?

SGF: I am Sani Garba Fakai, I was born on 2^nd September, 1975 in Fakai of Zuru Emirate in Kebbi State. I did my primary school in Fakai Model Primary School, afterwards, I proceeded to Government Technical College, Zuru and to the Polytechnic, Birnin Kebbi, now Federal Polytechnic, Birnin Kebbi where I obtained my National and Higher National Diplomas.

CCD: When did you join Kaduna Electric?

SGF: I joined Kaduna Electric immediately after taken over from the former PHCN, that should be around December, 2014. 

                                                    

CCD: As Technical Manager, what are your responsibilities?

SGF: As a Technical Manager, my primary responsibility is to ensure steady supply of electricity to our esteemed customers and to make sure that the personnel and the equipment of the Company are  safe and working in a good condition. 

CCD: The Engineering division is the back bone of our business, what are the challenges so far?

SGF: I quite agree with you that the Engineering Division is strategic to the success of the Company, and this is simply because we are in electricity business, without engineering the business will not even be called business. Our major challenge here is our people don’t really want to pay what they consumed and from another part our linesmen joke with safety issues.

CCD: As an Engineer, how does your role help in improving revenue and

Minimize losses?

SGF: We as a department in the Company cannot do it alone and must work with other departments and units to surmount whatever challenges there are. Our customers must pay what they consumed and we are ensuring that through the appropriate ways as enshrined by the Company among which is dialogue, awareness campaign, disconnection and as well monitoring all default customers. Let me emphasized this issue of monitoring, disconnecting a customer is not a big deal, we should also follow up with serious monitoring. Coming to your question, as an Engineer, my role cannot be over emphasized in adding value and improving collection. I make sure I pay my own bill so as to be a very good leader to my team members, this will encourage people around me to pay for what they consumed promptly.

CCD: One of our problems is to balance the energy consumed into naira and kobo how are you planning it?

 

SGF: we as a company before we balance the naira and kobo in comparison to the energy being given to the customers, we must metered all or some of our major customers. With this, the commercial loses will reduce. We can also perform better when all staff take ownership of this business.    

CCD: The quality of supply in Kebbi AO is much better than other Area Offices but the revenue being generated does not commensurate with that, do you have any advice?

SGF As T.M, I will advise the green feeder to manage the supply for at least

20 hours and the yellow feeders should go 6-7hours of supply, and

those that are on red feeders will  enjoy at least 4-5hours daily to reduce the

losses from red and yellows feeders. CCD Do you have any appeal to the staff and Management?

SGF: The appeal to staff of this company is to continue giving their best to move the company forward and for the management,  it should give necessary materials for the smooth working condition of the staff and we have seen a lot of such kind, we like the management to keep doing such.

CCD: Safety first and always, how do you supervise it as some of our

Engineers do not obey the safety rules.

SGF: safety is the back born of any engineering work, safety saves lives  and equipment. Without safety, all what we are doing will not be achieved. If you are not safety conscious, the work will be zero because you can damage the material or equipment you are working with. 

“my role cannot be over emphasized in adding value and improving collection. I make sure I pay my own bill so as to be a very good leader to my team members, this will encourage people around me to pay for what they consumed promptly”.

KADUNA ELECTRIC NEWSLETTER JULY 1ST EDITION

ECOWAS Youth Parliament Honours MD, Kaduna Electric

The Economic Community of West African States Youth Parliament has conferred the prestigious Pan African Gold Award on the Managing Director/CEO of Kaduna Electric, Engr. Garba Haruna for his youth empowerment initiative in the areas of scholarship and job creation for the youth.

Speaking during the investiture of the MD in Kaduna last week, the Deputy Speaker of ECOWAS Youth Parliament, Ambassador Olasukanmi Kolawole said they were not only in Kaduna to present the Pan African Gold Award to him, but also to motivate and encourage him to continue doing the good work.

He announced that the ECOWAS Youth Parliament is proud to be associated with Engr. Garba Haruna because he is “a role model, a pillar of support, pathfinder, an epitome of good leadership, and an icon of hope not only to Kebbi State but to Nigeria and West African youth at large”.

Ambassador Olasukanmi expressed optimism that the Award will further motivate the Managing Director/CEO of Kaduna Electric, Engr. Garba Haruna to put in more effort in everything he is doing. “Giving you this award does not mean you are the best, but it means you are putting in your best in everything you are doing”, he added.

Responding, The Award recipient, Engr. Garba Haruna thanked the Ecowas Youth Parliament for the honour bestowed on him.  He said he “felt humbled by some of the qualities attributed to him and promised to work harder for the betterment of society and humanity in general”.

The Deputy speaker of the Parliament, Ambassador Olasukanmi Kolawole and was accompanied by some members of parliament from Togo, Ivory Coast and Mali.

NSCDC Sokoto Command, Applauds Kaduna Electric

Kaduna Electric has been commended for their efforts in ensuring steady and reliable power supply in Sokoto State.

This commendation was given by the Head, Department of Critical National Assets and Infrastructure, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Sokoto Command, DCC, Bello Alkali Argungu when he paid a courtesy visit to Sokoto Regional office recently.

DCC Bello explained that the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps is the number one stakeholder of Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company and went further to explained the activities of the department in the power sector nationwide, particularly in Sokoto State.

He said the Department was actively involved in the provision of security to critical national assets like power supply installations since its creation in 2013. “We have been deploying our personnel to provide security at your installations since the days of Power Holding Company of Nigeria ( PHCN) as well as monitoring of our armed personnel at the various distribution substations,  Transmission substations, Service Centres in Sokoto metropolis such as Gwiwa Business Unit, Marina Business Unit, Birnin Kebbi Road Injection Substation”, he stated.

He gave assurance that the Department is ready to give the Company maximum support more especially in the area of curbing the menace of vandalism and energy theft.

Earlier, the Business Development & Regional Officer, Masaoud Salisu Abdulkadir, revealed that the major challenge facing Kaduna Electric is vandalism of the Company’s equipment and installations. He noted that incessant cases of vandalism are affecting quality supply.

According to him, the Company Regional office recorded 38 cases of vandalism in Sokoto metropolis alone in the last six months with most of these incidences happening at distribution substations.” 

He solicited for the cooperation of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, community leaders, the Police, Department of State Security Services, other security agencies and stakeholders to curtail the menace.

Another challenge facing the Company as disclosed by the BDRO is inadequate returns on investment as a result of nonpayment of electricity bills by the customers. He noted “non-payment of electricity bills is affecting quality and quantity of power supply to customers”.

Masood urged the State Commandant of NSCDC to use his good office to ensure that all formations under his Command pay their bills as at when due for better Service.

iRecharge Reward Loyal Customers, Kaduna Electric Staff

It was a celebration galore last Thursday, 5^th July 2018 when Infostrategy Technology, the promoter of Irecharge online payment platform rewarded customers of Kaduna Electric who used the platform to settle their electricity bills and staff of the Company. 

Conducting the raffle draw, the representative of irecharge.ng, Ms. Ruqayya Oyawoye disclosed that the prizes were in two categories; that of the customers and the Sales Representatives of Kaduna Electric.

She announced that eight customers emerged winners in the customers’ category for their loyalty to the brand and for prompt settlement of their bills in the month of June 2018. These customers were rewarded with vouchers to enable them settle their next months’ bills.

On the Sales Reps category, four staff of Kaduna Electric were rewarded for demonstrating commitment towards promoting the brand. The winners in the Staff category were Tasiu Ibrahim, a Sales Rep with Makera Regional Office who emerged overall best and won an IPAD; Hassan Buratai of Doka Regional Office emerged second best and won an Android phone, while Safiya and Stella won seven and four thousand-naira vouchers respectively.

Ms. Oyawoye further revealed that the gesture was Irecharge’s modest way of contributing towards improving the liquidity situation in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry, while at the same time providing convenient avenue through which electricity users could pay their bills.

In his welcome message, the Chief Commercial Officer, Mal Murtala Bello, who represented the Managing Director/CEO of Kaduna Electric, called “on customers to patronise all the online payment platforms put forward by Kaduna Electric as they are safe, customers friendly and saves a lot of time and highly effective”. He congratulated the winners and wished them more success in subsequent months.

In his closing remarks, Mal. Abdulazeez Abdullahi, Head Corporate Communication thanked iRecharge for the gesture.

Bungudu LG Boss Appeals For More Power, Promise Support To Kaduna Electric

The Chairman of Bungudu Local Government Area in Zamfara State, Alhaji Abdulazeez Sa’ad Nahuce, has appealed to the Management of Kaduna Electric, Gusau Regional Office to improve the quality of power supply to the Local Government while assuring the Company of the Council’s support.

The Chairman made the appealed during an engagement with stakeholders in the Area, held at Bungudu Local Government Secretariat on Thursday, 12^th July, 2018.

Cross Section of Stakeholders at the Engagement

He called on the Gusau Regional Office to establish a proper and effective channel of communication between the Company and its customers, stressing that these will go along way in bridging the communication gap between the two parties and reduced frequent misunderstanding.

“My office and the Emirate are ready to give any support needed to ensure that all the problems you are facing are resolved amicably so that our communities should be getting adequate power supply, we promise to give you our maximum cooperation and ensure that our people pay electricity bills when you supply us with adequate power supply" he stated.

Alhaji Abdulazeez Nahuce stressed the need for urgent massive customers’ education which according to him is currently lacking. “The Company should take the responsibility of their activities that can make customer understand that you are here for change, you cannot expect your customers to replace and repair your installed equipment’s from his own personal pocket, you sincerely have to change your mode of operations" he noted.

In his contribution, the leader of Bungudu Local Government Youth Association, Malam Sagir Musa decried the incessant power interruption in the area and called on the Company to address the situation. He pledges the cooperation and support of the youth in the area to the Company

Responding, the HRB Manager, Gusau Region, Abdullahi Muhammad Bundur who represented the Business Development & Regional Officer thanked the members of the community for the wonderful cooperation they have been giving the Company and hope that such will continue.

He further noted that Kaduna Electric provides equal services to all its customers without discrimination, stressing that "power is a commodity that cannot be stored, the moment we get it is the moment we supply to the customers."

On the problem of Maru-Bungudu line, the Company is doing everything possible to ensure reasonable stability on the line but cautioned that such will not be achieved if customers do not settle their bills as at when due.

Talking about some staff who form the habit of taking money from customers in the name of repairing equipment, he advised that the people concerned should report such staff to the Regional Office and that they should always demand for official ID card of any staff who made such ridiculous request from the public.

Regarding bills payment, he advised the customers to always go to the office, bank or use the online payment channels established by the Company to avoid paying their money to a wrong person.

High points of the engagement were questions and answer session where the stakeholders were availed with the opportunity to seek clarifications on issues not well understood and to offer useful suggestions.

MEET THE STAFF SERIES

EFFECTIVE TRACKING OF BUSINESS ACTIVITIES IS THE MAGIC FORMULA…Ahmed Mustapha

CCD: Can you tell us about yourself?       

AM: My name is Ahmed Mustapha Mohammed, I am a graduate of Ahmadu Bello University in the year 2010 with second class upper division. I had my secondary education at Sagamu High School, Sagamu, Ogun state. I am happily married with 2 kids.

CCD: When did you join Kaduna Electric and what is your primary responsibilities

AM: I Joined Kaduna electric in September 2015.  My responsibilities is to supervise and coordinates the activities of service centre mangers in terms of quality report, collection analysis, records keeping of all activities in the Regional Office and by participation in the Regional Office Management decision.

CCD: You were recently elevated to the position of Commercial Manager, what do you have to say about that?

AM:I was promoted to the rank of the Commercial Manager (CM) as a result of commitment, dedication, hard work, integrity and sacrifice because I have passion for the company and my sacrifice paid for me. From SR, to supervisor both in Sabon Gari and Zaria city feeder all in Zaria Regional Office and now in Gusau as CM.

CCD: Do you mean hard work pays in kaduna Electric and how does it pay?

AM: Anything you are doing in Kaduna Electric is being watched by other people, your immediate supervisor or Team Lead and shall be reflected on your appraisal. Mind you, we have an appraisal that is taking place on quarterly basis, all this are avenue which hard work are measures and at the appropriate time, the affected personnel is recognized, appreciated and rewarded.

CCD: What are the challenges since you come on board?

AM: There is no new challenges for me since I came on board because, it is the same business activities. However, Data base updates is the greatest challenge I am facing right now due to snail walking of the SCM, But significant improvement has been recorded in that regard.

CCD: One tough challenge facing the Company is poor revenue collection, what is your contribution to that?

AM: I always believed that TRACKER of all forms is the only panacea to collection efficiency. We need to track all our routine activities i.e collection, bills distribution, disconnection and reconnection etc, all these activities should be effectively tracked. We also need to engage our SR and SCM in terms blocking leakages. With this, I am confident we shall overcome collection challenges.

CCD: What is your greatest strength?

AM: Hard work and dedication in the sense that our work is 24/7, at any given time, one mail or the other will come which you need to reply or to take action. So my strength here is the passion and ability to work under pressure with little or no supervision.

CCD: So what de-motivates you?

AM: Threat, laziness and weekends; I hate weekends because of my Company. I don’t like people talking negatives concerning the status and the performance of the Company.

CCD: What do have to say about rewards and recognition introduced by the Company, does it motivates?

AM: Yes, reward is a price for hard work, there is reward for everything be it positive or negative. Here in Kaduna Electric, we decided to go on positive reward, showing appreciation to staffs for their outstanding performance and commitment,  it create positive competition among departments and peers, so its motivates a lot. I am working harder to get another trophy in the next edition.

CCD: Any appeal or suggestion to staffs or management?

AM: To staffs let take ownership of the business so that we can work as a team; to the Management, please they should de-emphasize the use of threats of disengagement, this demoralized staffs output. The future of the Company is bright and  if all of us are patient, we shall get to the promise land.

KADUNA ELECTRIC WATCH, EPISODE 2

KADUNA ELECETRIC FRONTLINE JULY EDITION

 We Have Attained 97% Compliance With MD Customers’ Metering --- Alh Haruna Muhammad

Alh Haruna Muhammad Head MD Unit

In the Month of May, 2018, the Company crossed the N2b revenue mark, an unprecedented feat in the history of the Company. Interestingly,  Maximum Demand customers contributed almost fifty percent of the collection. It is against this background that we sat with Alhaji Muhammad Haruna, as he is fondly called, the Head, MD Unit to discuss the strategic position of the Unit, challenges facing it and the expectation of the Management.  

CCD: The Company hit two billion naira collection last month, what is your take on this important achievement?

AH: Its quite a good development; this is what have been in the Company’s agenda that we should hit the two billion Naira mark all along, we have been trying but we didn’t reach there until last month.

 The Company is actually pleased with each and every staff for their contributions and the most important thing however is to sustain the momentum; you know about a year ago, we collected 1.6billion, we applauded ourselves then only for us to dropped to 1.3bilinon and even further nose-dived to 1.2billion. So now that we hit 2billion naira, we should work extra hard to ensure that the 2billion Naira is sustained and we should keep on going forward.

CCD: How much was the contribution of the MD Unit towards the collection of last month?

AH: The figure has not been correctly configured by the collection unit, but I believe we would have contributed close to 1 billion Naira, about 930-950million naira. The MD Unit is the cash cow of the Company.

 

CCD: How strategically positioned is your unit in ensuring we have a sustainable progress in revenue generation?

AH: We were in Abuja for three days meeting with the MD, he has specifically given us a target, we should ensure 100% billing efficiency of the MD customers, this month, we are targeting a minimum of 1.5million and going forward, we should clock 1.8-2billion naira monthly via billings, we are now looking at each and every MD customer to ensure that all the customers are properly metered, and also ensure no meter is compromised. We are also working closely with Engineering Division to

ensure that the MD customers are given priority in terms of supply and we should also ensure we monitor each customer within the range; all these tasks are being undertaken so that we can be able to hit the target of 2billion naira.

CCD: NERC has out lawed estimated billing of MD Customers, what is the Company’s compliance level with the directive?

AH: We have about 97% of our MD Customers metered; only about 3 or less than 3 % remaining and we are determined to ensure that by the end of this month, customers in MD category are metered and the Management have also instructed that no new customers should be connected without being metered. Now any customer that is coming in will be metered both residential, commercials or the military.

CCD: We have high concentration of Military formation in our franchise area, how is this affecting the performance of your Unit?

AH: You are correct, we have the highest concentration of military formations among the eleven Discos; We have numerous military establishments in Kaduna, Jaji, Zaria, Kachia, Kebbi, Sokoto and even in Zamfara and their average monthly billing is about 300million naira and this payment is always forthcoming. So basically, we have already fall short of 300million from the target given. However, we are working hard to ensure that we get some money from them monthly and we have been engaging them and we will continue to engage them. The Management at higher level are also working towards getting payment from source going forward.

 CCD: What is the debt statues of the Federal and State MDAs what efforts are you making to recover this debt? 

AH: The military have a close debts portfolio of close to 1.2 billion Naira as at last Month. State like Kebbi is not owing anything, they pay their bills every Month. For Sokoto State, there is an order from the government that they should pay current charges, we are very going to negotiate with Sokoto State on modality for settling the debt. As for Zamfara State that have the highest debt, the Governor has also given order of paying 19million Naira every Month. The MD/CEO is actually working very hard towards ensuring that the State Governments pay their outstanding not only in Zamfara but all the States; last month we had a meeting with Kaduna State Government and it was very fruitful, the Governor promised to pay 300million naira last month which he did and subsequently he will pay 250million every month courtesy of the discussion with the MD/CEO;   and the same goes to Kebbi, the MD/CEO had an agreement with the Governor and it is being honored. I believe it is also going to work in Zamfara and Sokoto States. By the time they pay 3-5times, they will have liquidated their debts then we will be working on current charges that is where we have to go over again to ensure that we source for the money that will cover the deficit that may arise after all the debt has been settled. 

CCD: Some Industries experts are of the opinion that prepaid MD meters should be install at military and police formations, what is your view?

AH: It’s a very good development even though the Company is actually working towards that. Some vendors came and displayed some meters and the Company is considering bringing them into circuit. However, you know the military can tamper with the meter and they won’t allow you to have access to go and confirm the situation on ground, but if we can get a tamper proof MD prepaid meter, it will go a long way in helping us recover our monthly billings from the military and paramilitary accounts we have. It will be a very good development if it is introduced and it should be done at a shortest possible time, for now we have to live with the devil around us and continue to dialogue and lobby them and get some money from them at least monthly. 

CCD: What do you consider the daunting challenge in your unit and how do you want the Management to assist?

 AH: Externally, it is the customer’s attitude towards settlement, internally it has to do with proper energy management; we should push the energy where we fill it is needed so that we can recover our money. In March we billed one of we major Customer called Sun glass 15.2million when we did some energy management and created an 11KV feeder dedicated to them two weeks after, we billed them in April 19.8million that is about 4.5 million naira increase within two weeks, I suggest that should be doing the same thing to other industries, we can direct energy to them for 18, 20-22 hours within the 24hours of the day so that they will be able to go on shift production at their own levels, the Company is also in discussion with Northern Noodles Company along Refinery Road, Nigerian breweries and Olam. Nigerian brewery spends more than 200miillion Naira monthly on diesel, so if we can to take 30-40% of that, we will have a lot of money at the end of the Month as per collection.

We also need assistance of better logistics in terms of transportation and Staff; we have 8 Area Offices with only 2-3vehicles; ideally we should have vehicle in each of the Area Offices and areas where we feel we have good customer base like Doka,Makera, Sokoto and Kebbi, we should have  2 representatives  their so that we can cover every customer  within a short period of time. These are the things we require and definitely with all this things on ground, we will deliver because we are determined.

CCD: Do you have anything to share with us?

AH: The only thing is for the Corporate Communication to actually mobilize the general Staff towards team work; everybody should put in his/her best, we should be honest to ourselves and the Company; we should not allow ourselves to be tempted to compromise the Company’s interest for any personal gain; whatever that is due to the Company should be remitted into the account of the Company; by so doing we will be able to have our monthly collections increased. In all honesty, at the rate the collection is going and the Company’s overhead, we should expect any increase in salary and allowances, but by the time we block all the loopholes and put in our best, we will be able to increase the collections. If we maintain the 2billion Naira, defiantly the Company will increase our numerations.