Friday, 23 August 2019

KADUNA ELECTRIC NEWSLETTER AUGUST 2ND EDITION


Kaduna Electric, Kano Disco Team-up to Stem Financial Malfeasance.

By Ruqayya Hamisu

The Kaduna Electric and Kano Disco’s Audit teams have pledged to collaborate with one another to build and strengthen the Capacity of the two audit teams for greater productivity and efficiency.
The assertion was made during a 3-day knowledge sharing and interactive session between the officials of the audit Units of the two Companies held at the Corporate Head Quarters of Kaduna Electric two weeks ago. 
The program which was co-chaired by Jamilu Salisu Ahmed, Head, Audit Unit, Kano Electricity Distribution Company and Alhaji Abubakar Diggi, Head, Audit Unit, Kaduna Electric, with the theme “ the Road so far”.
The collaborative effort was aimed at helping each other to tackle leakages that both Companies are facing”, it was further stated.
Mr Salisu shared operational, financial and investigative tips with the audit teams from the two companies. He said “auditors have to identify weakness in the control system and be able to strengthen them. The Audit Unit should be fully in charge of all records of transaction, audit planning, execution, and follow up are the procedures for effective auditing”.
While the Kaduna Electric Head of Audit, Alhaji Abubakar Diggi shared operational, financial and fraud related activities with the two teams.
Mr Abubakar said ‘’the first motive is how to help in minimizing fraudulent activities particularly in the Commercial Department. He advised that auditors must always make sure that all transaction are well documented and backed with relevant approvals and authorization for control purpose. Cash collections and Bank verification must be done monthly to ensure all revenue collected are remitted accordingly”.
He disclosed that each Area Office is attached to a particular auditor and the auditors are rotated every 2-3 months to another Area Office, The unit also vets all customers account adjustment documents before recommending any adjustment. He advised the audit teams to imbibe the culture of going out to conduct sample checks at different feeders as it has really helped in detecting malpractices.
Other issues discussed by both parties were:  zero tolerance to Nepa two who are mostly under sales representatives and suggested that when such cases are found, the sales reps should be replaced by the Nepa two, that will stop staff from employing them. Another suggestion made the auditors is whistle blow among staff and non-staff, and should be followed up. That will really help in discovering a lot of fraud activities in the companies.



Kaduna Electric Takes Safety Campaign to Communities

By Asma’u Muhammad

In an effort to avert the occurrence of electrical accidents within its operational area, the Management of Kaduna Electric has taken safety awareness Campaign to rural communities.
The first lap of the safety campaign train, led by the Area Manager, Doka Area Office, Ibrahim Danbatta was at Kwanan Farakwai in Igabi LGA of Kaduna last week where lectures, live demonstrations, questions and answers and other educative and enlightenment activities took place.
Addressing the community, the Area Manager, Doka Area Office, Ibrahim Dantbatta charged community leaders and other leaders of thought to always report unusual scenario, accidents or damaged to power supply equipment to the nearest Kaduna Electric Office for necessary and timely repairs to avert accident.
He noted that power supply installations like poles, high voltage, over lead lines and conductors could suffer damages as a result of man-made or natural phenomenon like heavy rain or wind storm and only the timely intervention of trained personnel of Company would avert the occurrence of accident.
He warned that high voltage power lines are very dangerous when they come to contact with human beings, animals and plants and should be aoided as much as possible.
He appealed to communities to report cases of conductors lying on the ground and should never assume that such conductors are ‘dead’.
Malam Ibrahim also called on the community to always maintain the statutory right of way and avoid erecting structures, trading or sitting under power lines so as to prevent the occurrence of any unfortunate incidences.
The climax of the sensitization exercise was a presentation on safety by the HSE Officer, Mustapha Aliyu where he explained safety rules and how to rescue an electrocuted victim. The team also took time off to visit and commiserate with a victim of electrical accident in the community.



AM Makera Charges Communities on Bills Payments

By Ruqayya Hamisu

The Area Manager, Makera Area Office, Engr. Umar Farouk has called on Unguwan Romi, Kakuri GRA and Gwagwada communities to ensure regular and timely settlement of their bills for better services, just as he advocated energy conservation culture among the communities.
Engr. Farouk made the assertion during community and stakeholders engagement and sensitization program held in the three communities recently.
‘’The efficiency of the Company is directly tied to the response of the customers towards payments of bills”, he said.
The Area Manager also called on the communities to embrace the forth-coming Meter Asset Provider scheme (MAP) so as to have their premises metered.
According to him, “the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has approved the implementation of MAP scheme and very soon the Company shall commence meter roll-out through the MAP scheme; I hereby enjoin you to embrace the scheme so as to put rest, the controversy surrounding estimated billing”.
A community leader from Hayin Katafawa, Sarki Danladi applauded the Company for initiating the engagement with the customers and suggest that such meetings should be made a regular event. Cross section of customers from the communities asked questions and sought clarification on issues not clear.  





No comments:

Post a Comment