MEET THE STAFF SERIES

Why Store Personnel Require Training

CCD: Joseph Olusanya, tell us a bit about yourself.

JO: I am the Team Lead, Store, Doka Regional Office, Kaduna Electric. As a Team Lead, I oversee all the activities of my Unit. 

I make sure that every officer in my team carries out his or her duties diligently and effectively. And I execute any other responsibility I am required to perform while protecting the interest of the company at all times.

Everything is done in an orderly manner to ensure that we account for everything we give out after we get an approval from the BDRO. I ensure that no material goes out of our store without the BDRO's approval and we also give gate pass for security to check at the gate.

Usually, if there is any fault in the field the Technical Manager calls the attention of the Lines Engineer to book for what is required.  Thereafter, it will be taken to the Technical Manager, and with the approval of the BDRO, it means the material can be released.

This will be accompanied with a receipt and a gate pass, which is part of the clearance procedure.

CCD: How do you ensure that materials in store are kept safe?

JO: Unlike the practice in the past where we collected the materials and kept them in store, we no longer operate that way. Whenever there is need for materials, we make request to the Head Office before they are given to those who requested for them.

The ones you see on the ground here are mostly obsolete but materials like Feeder Pillar Unit, Aluminum Conductor are ordered from the head office based on request.

CCD: Do have a working arrangement with the Security team to ensure safety of the materials?

JO: Of course, there is. Like I mentioned earlier, there is no any single material that goes out without a gate pass and proper check/investigation at the gate by the security personnel.

CCD: What key projects would you say you executed in 2018 in your department?

JO: Since my assumption of duty at the Store in July 2018, from Makera Regional Office, we have executed a lot of projects like relocation of Poles, construction of SilverBird, Isa Kaita, NTI and just recently released materials for work to commence in Dan Kande.

 After the materials have been issued, I go to site to ensure that the materials issued are the ones being used. 

CCD: What are the challenges you are facing in discharging your duties?

JO: One of the major challenges we face is our inability to get materials on weekend from the Head Office. Sometimes the materials might be urgently needed but cannot be released without approval. Look at what I have raised since 16^th of this month and today is 18^th and up till now I have not got an approval because the person to give the approval is very busy.

There is also the problem of transporting the items and not having someone to approve in an event where the main approval person is busy. 

It is important to say that we have seen people from other departments going for trainings but no staff from the Store has been nominated for training. 

Cash is involved in buying the materials we keep in the Store, we also need to account for every single kobo spent, that is why I think we need to attend training designed for us and whoever attends can share the knowledge with the rest of the team.

CCD: Any suggestions/appeal to the Management or Staff?

JO: My advice is very simple; let somebody be there to represent the person in charge of approval to avoid the delay associated with getting an approval. 

On the other hand, my appeal to staff is to have passion for the job. The best way to grow is it to be better than what you were yesterday. Set a target and try to surpass that target every day.