KADUNA ELECTRIC FRONTLINE NOVEMBER EDITION

We must Build and Develop the Capacity of Staff _ HR Manager, Kebbi North. 

CCD: Tell us briefly about yourself.

AL: My name is Aminu Labaran. I was born and brought up in the ancient city of Sokoto, "the Seat of the Caliphate". I did my Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Education in Sokoto. I am a graduate of the then Sokoto State Polytechnic (Now Umaru Ali Shinkafi Polytechnic).

CCD: Everybody know HR stands for human resources, in a broader term, what are the responsibilities of HR Manager? 

AL: As HR Manager, my responsibilities involve so many aspects. Apart from overall supervision of the HR Department to ensure that staff matters are properly addressed, we are also making concerted efforts to instill discipline and respect to the constituted authority and ensure that every task must be accomplished in accordance with the Policy guidelines of the Company. 

As HR Manager, I always mobilize my staff towards effective monitoring of numerous activities of various departments and give necessary support and cooperation to the departmental heads for proper implementation of their departmental responsibilities. I maintain and implement the formulated policies of the Company and also work hand in hand with the Area Office Management in decision making processes to facilitate smooth running of the official activities in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Company.

I also contribute in maintaining law and order, and encourage staff to work hard to towards facilitating operational efficiency and effective revenue generation. In the same vein, I have been making concerted efforts in sensitizing the employees on the formulated policies of the Company and also give some interpretations to staff on matters relating to the new Kaduna Electric Condition of Service.

I also shortlist some of our staff who require training skills and recommend to the Learning & Development (L&D) Unit for manpower capacity building with a view to improving their performance in their respective areas of assignment.

CCD: What do you consider as major challenges?

AL: The challenges, of course, they are numerous. Some of these challenges includes unconducive working environment, non-provision of necessary logistics to complement our efforts of staff monitoring in both Urban and Rural areas. Others are non-provision of office equipment such as Laptop, Computers, Printers, Office Furniture, office stationary etc.  These are some of the major challenges we are currently facing in this Area Office.

CCD: As HR Manager, most of your duties involve managing staff, How do you cope with that?

AL: As you know, managing human being is not an easy task. It is much easier to manage animals than managing human being. However, we are doing our best to manage the human resources we have and invigorate them to work diligently and abide by the laid down rules and regulations of the Company. 

CCD: What are your major achievements? 

AL: Although I didn't spend much time in Kebbi Area Office, but during my short period, we recorded remarkable changes on what we called "Attitudinal/behaviors towards official responsibilities". Most of the staff of Kebbi Area Office resides at Argungu. They came to work late and close early. But as a result of these attitudinal changes, they developed a high sense of commitment, punctuality to work and perform their official responsibilities diligently.

We are able to establish communication platform between the HR Department and the Service Centre Managers where we disseminate information to them for immediate action whenever the need arises. We also have a very cordial relationship with the Departmental Heads and we always give them our support and co-operation towards achieving the meaningful objectives of this Company.

CCD: How would you rate the general performance of Kebbi Area Office staff?

AL: So far so good, the performance in terms of steady and uninterrupted power supply, revenue generation etc. are commendable. The staff have also developed higher sense of loyalty, commitment, team-work and customer friendliness in discharging their duties. At HR level, we closely monitor their activities and encourage them to rededicate themselves and work as a team with a view to achieving the overall objectives of the Company.

Similarly, the Management under the leadership of Engr. Dogara is tried its possible best to ensure qualitative and uninterrupted power supply within our area of jurisdiction. In addition, a lot of strategies have been mapped out this time again to improve our revenue base. 

CCD: Any appeal or suggestion to staff and the Management?

AL: Well, my appeal to staff of Kebbi Area Office is to rededicate themselves and work as team and also remain highly committed in discharging their duties. It is a well known fact that discipline, dedication and team work are the key of progress. 

On the other hand, the Management should be fair and develop a sense of belonging where everyone will be carried along without any discrimination so that we can work collectively to improve the general performance of the Area Office. The Management should also provide logistics support not only to Technical and Marketing Departments but also to all other Departments and Units with a view to achieving the remarkable progress in carrying the Area Office to greater height.

Thank you and best regard.

"when you are talking of performance and efficiency in service delivery, you can't rule out the significance of discipline. Discipline is the key to success. "