MEET THE STAFF SERIES

 As Custodian of the Company’s Asset We Advice Against Over or Under Stocking

Bashar Sabo, Store Officer

CCD: Can you briefly tell us about your self?

BS: My name is Bashar Sabo, I attended LEA Primary School, Tudun wada, Kaduna; Government Day secondary School, Kurmin Mashi (NDA) Kaduna and Hannat College respectively. I attended Staff training school kakuri where I obtained certificate in supply Assistance 111 and certificate in store administration respectively, I graduated from Kano state polytechnic department of Purchasing and supply, I moved to Bayero University Kano where I obtained PGD in Accounting and finance, I am currently a chartered Member of Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Management of Nigeria (CIPSMN).

CCD:  When did you join the service of Kaduna electric, and what have you been doing ever since?

BS: I joined Kaduna electric on 1st September 2015 as a stores officer and I am still in store.

CCD: As a store officer, what does you daily routine looks like?

BS: My daily routine include-

To  Store, Control and issue all tools, equipment and related materials and services to ensure continuation of the operation of the Company. Bearing in mind the need for proper authorization and strict clerical control of all stock.

To check all the deliveries made to stores, to check the documentation (delivery note) and also inform the asset Unit of all goods received.

To ensure adequate health and safety precautions are taken in relation to whole stores operation.

To receive, store, control and document all scrap and excess returned to the store.

CCD:  In what way can we say a store officer adds valve to the operations of the Company?

BS: Almost 85% of the Company assets are kept in stores which reflect in the Company's balance sheet as a stock while a store officer is responsible for receiving, recording, inspecting, arranging and storing all kinds of materials needed in the whole company for maintenance, new project, servicing until when required by the users department or company's customers. For that, the store officer contribute directly to profitability and be concern with lead time, storage cost, acquisition cost material handling etc, for that store officer is considered as a contributor towards profit earning of the Company.

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CCD: At times material are requested from the store only to be told that the materials are unavailable, why are we having such disconnect between the store and the user departments?

BS: Stores are the custodian of the materials, the moment materials reach re-order level, the store officer use to notify the authority for order therefore unavailability of materials occurs as a result of unforeseen circumstances.

CCD: As member of the Company's supply chain management, what do you think need to be done to ensure smooth operations?

BS: We should avoid situations where there could be excessive investment on materials leading to capital being tied down, over stocking and under stocking materials and stock out problem.

Enhancing Quality control of goods and services into the stores and the company.

To reduce number of scraps, waste, surplus, obsolescent, obsolete and damage materials and equipment in the company e.t.c.

To give effective training and development of store personal e.t.c

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

BS: The management should be committed on all staff’s remuneration and welfarism to enable smooth operation

While Staffs remain committed with their duties as per condition of service.

 

Kaduna Electric Frontline December Edition

 

We Shall Mobilise all Human and Material Resources to Make Zamfara Region a Reference Point - RM Zamfara

CCD: Congratulations on your new appointment as Regional Manager in-charge of Zamfara, how do you feel being given such a much higher responsibility?

AM: I feel elated to be appointed as Regional Manager. It is both an honour and a call to more dedicated service to the Company. I shall continue to pull together a collection of individuals that are committed to win against all odds. We shall mobilise all human and material resources to make Zamfara Region the standard bearer.

CCD:  Although you have at various times being an Area Manager, but the responsibility of a Regional Manager is much more challenging given the fact that a Regional Manager is supervising three or more Area Offices, how do you intend to lead the Region?

AM: First, I will ensure that every member of the Team, starting with the Area Managers, understand the business; what we are doing are doing and why we are doing it. The Area Managers as the drivers of the business must understand their respective franchises very well; they must know their customers characteristics; where is the energy going and must be ready to account for the energy delivered to their Area Offices. I also intend to share best practices with them on how to judiciously allocate the scare resources allocated to them. The Commercial Managers, Service Centre Managers and even the Sales Representatives too would not be left out.

What exactly are you going to do differently in your Regional Office?

AM: What we are going to do differently is getting the right people with the right mind-set “on the bus” by committing every staff of the Regional Office to a common goal and demanding total dedication to the set goal and making sure the Region live up to expectations of the Management. Team spirit and shared responsibility in the Regional Office shall not be promoted under my watch, but shall be institutionalized.

CCD: Can we say you shall leverage on your previous experience as an AM to make a giant stride within a short time?

AM: Of Course, being there before was an added advantage because on the job experience is key; but in addition to that, I shall leverage on my ability to build a high-level commitment to deliver with the right staff attitude and team members understanding how individual inputs and contributions are paramount to the success of the Regional Office.

CCD: In what way will the Promotion motivates you for more outstanding performances?

AM: Indeed, my recent elevation to the position of a Regional Manager is like a morale booster to increase the drive for productivity. And for the Zamfara Region team, we now have our eyes fixed on the challenge ahead and ready to Zamfara Region a Reference point. We shall continue to put in our best in the discharge of our responsibilities.

CCD: In order of importance, what are the five (5) KPIs of a Regional Manager?

AM: Smooth running of the Regional Office effectively by overseeing all Area Offices under my jurisdiction and keeping close supervision on the performance of the Area Offices.

To provide and enforce Kaduna Electric business models, process & procedures.

To making sure all electrical installation are adequately maintained for optimal customer service delivery.

Performance monitoring, assigning target and ensuring a collection target of minimum 80% is achieved in each Area Office.

Ensuring ATC&C reduction month on month through improved commercial and technical performance.

So far, with respect to the above KPIs, we are working hard to ensure sustainable improvement on the Regional Office’s performance.

CCD: Why are we finding it difficult as a Company to reduce our ATC&C losses to an acceptable level?

AM: little or no investment on our aging network lines and improper maintenance, over burden transformer’s, exposure of our lines to tampering which result to energy theft and our inability to deploy smart meters to curb meter bypass and slow process of replacement of defective meters. These are largely the factors responsible for the huge energy and financial losses being incurred by the Company.

CCD: As an RM, you may no longer have direct contact with customers, how will you ensure that the AMs do not sheer away from their responsibility of managing both your subordinates and the customers?\

AM: As a Regional Manager, my conduct, character and integrity will either strengthen or weaken the people under my supervision. So, I am always cautious of my action and inaction because my subordinates’ productivity is a reflection of who I am. As such, I shall continue to lead by setting good examples; I will teach and urge the Area Managers to lead by example and to continuously engage with our esteem customers and all stakeholders under their feeders.

CCD: It is strongly believed that for the Company to remain afloat we should be generating between 6–10-billion-naira revenue monthly, what strategy or suggestions can you give to enable us attain this target?

AM: The strategy is to first get all frontline staff committed to their job by ensuring incentives are put in place as a motivation for staff who are ready to go extra mile, provision of consumables and enablers to drive the business, improvement in timely bills production and reduction of direct cash handling. Metering is also key and automation of our non-economic viable feeders by deploying auto reclosures to reduce energy radiating through some of our 33KV rural feeders. More so is improvement on existing customers’ complaints and managing downtime effectively.

CCD: With the benefit of hindsight, is there anything you did in the past that you will do otherwise if similar situation present itself today?

AM: If am to reflect, I had the opportunity of leaving the shore of this country earlier in my days after school but choose to stay back. I wished I have done otherwise.

CCD: What is your message to members of Team Zamfara Region and the staff in general?

AM: To my team, just sustain the tempo and never lose sight on your strategy. You guys are my greatest asset because I can perceive loyalty, in return I shall remain loyal.

CCD: Who is Abdulraheed Mohammed and what brings out the best in him?

AM: Abdulrasheed Mohammed is a gallant comrade who always aspire to lead, on the job a team builder who is always committed to turning around poor performance, challenge his challenges and play to win, at home a father to four lovely kids and a husband to 2 beautiful wives.

MEET THE STAFF SERIES

 My Knowledge of Risk and Loan Management Improves Revenue Protection - Aminu A. Gayari

CCD: Tell me a bit about yourself?

AAG: I am Aminu Aliyu Gayari, MCIRLM, the Finance Manager, Sokoto Central Area Office. I hold a B.Sc. in Accounting and MSc. Accounting & Finance (with specialization in Forensic Accounting, Fraud Detection, Investigation and Protection). I am currently pursuing my membership of some professional bodies such as Institute of Chartered Accountants of, Nigeria (ICAN = 180596), Associate member Nigerian Institute of Management Chartered 98569, Full Member Chartered Institute of Risk and Loan Management (MCIRLM/6245). I am 43 years and married with kid.

CCD: Tell us about your duties as a Finance Manager?

AAG:The principal duties/Responsibilities a Finance Manager are:Overseeing the activities of the Collection Supervisor and Clearing Cashiers, preparation of daily collection report, forwarding of daily collection report to the Area Manager and HoU (Collection Channels), routine checks and verification of the sequence of receipt numbers generated from the cash registers, ensuring that audit rolls, cashiers daily register and the bank lodgments tally.

Others include ensuring the integrity and accuracy of payment records transmitted to billing system, maintaining revenue ledgers for the Regional Office, maintaining records on the operational expenses of the Regional Office.

I also attend to adjustment issues that require debit/credit reconciliation as the case may be, monitoring and reporting of Premium (MD/HRB) customers’ payments, processing and keeping proper record of Regional Office transactions from impress, preparation of revenue and accounting returns to the HoU (Collection Channels) as well as carrying out other duties as may be assigned by my superior.

CCD: What would you consider your professional achievements so far?

AAG: Revenue protection, building and maintaining strong customer relationship and adoption of accounting systems in the power sector.

CCD: Hard work has been guiding principle?

AAG: It has been a great deal of effort and endurance. Indeed, there is no gain saying the fact that hard work leads to success in business.

CCD: What techniques and managerial style do you use to keep your department together?

AAG: Transformational leadership known as visionary leadership. With all humility, I am strongly committed to the organizational purpose and big picture goals.

CCD: What is your motivation to excel in this Company?

AAG: Stewardship, team work, accountability and integrity 

CCD: What do you think is your weakness?

AAG: well, my greatest weakness I can say is Insufficient working materials. Most corporate organizations these days use modern accounting tools and software’s in revenue protection as well as fraud detection. We cannot afford to be left behind in this regard.

CCD: Any appeal or suggestion to other staff and management?

AAG: I appeal all staff to imbibe the virtue of discipline and stop insubordination. I will also appeal to the Management to improve in staff capacity building, welfare and motivation.

 

 

KADUNA ELECTRIC NEWSLETTER DECEMBER 2ND EDITION

Zamfara State Police Command To Support Kaduna Electric On Security

By Mohammed Abba

 

The Nigeria Police Force, Zamfara State Command has indicated its readiness to do everything possible in order to protect the facilities of Kaduna Electric against vandalism in the State.

The pledge as made the Zamfara State Commissioner of Police, CP Yusuf Kolo stated when the Management of the Zamfara Regional Office led by the Regional Manager, Abdurashid Muhammad paid him a courtesy visit in Gusau.

The Commissioner noted that it is very paramount for the Command to protect the staff and power supply assets of the Company against any threats just as the Police is doing everything humanly possible to protect every law-abiding citizen in the State.

CP Kolo Yusuf further stressed that constant supply of electricity is indispensable for the security and economic development of the State.

He appealed to the Management of Kaduna Electric to put the Zamfara State Police Headquarters and other Police formations in the State on its priority list to enable the Command to carry out its duties diligently.

In his address, the Regional Manager of Zamfara Regional Office, Comrade Abdurashid Muhammad, solicited for more support from the Nigerian Police Force and described the Command as one of the nation’s essential security architecture for maintenance of law and order as well as protection of lives and properties of the citizenry.

Comrade Abdurashid Mohammed commended the officers and men of the Zamfara State Police Command for their continued efforts in protecting the Company’s installation and solicited for more support of the Command, stressing that “security in a business is fundamental and will ensure that employees are able to operate with optimal productivity”.

“For a very long time, the Command has helped in no small way in safe guarding the Company’s installations from vandalism and other criminal activities that might hamper the smooth running of business activities of the organization” he said.

He noted that, vandalism of power supply facilities of the Company has produced negative effects ranging from financial losses, disruption of socio-economic activities and adversely affecting efficiency in service delivery.

“It is with deep sense of responsibility that we solicit for more support from the Command in order to enable us get those with such bad characters and prosecute them in court and publicize such behaviors in order to serve as deterrent to others”, he stated.  

Technical Supervisors, Others Trained on Safe Operations in Sokoto

By Umar Mohammed Tambuwal

 

Sokoto Regional Office of Kaduna Electric has conducted a three-day training for staff spread across the three Area offices in the State.

Staff that benefited from the training included Linemen, DSOs, Technical supervisors, Cable jointers and Electrical fitters.

The training, which was held at Sokoto central Area office, centered on safe work practices for staff of North, Central and South area offices under Sokoto Region was handled by Musa Zubairu and Mustapha Aliyu, both HSE Officers from the Head Office.

Among areas treated at the three days training are ladder safety and hazards involving ladders caused by improper selection, care or use and not by manufacturing defects.

Participants were also taught on the need for them to have a good understanding of common causes of electrical accident, learn from mistakes from previous accident and have improved understanding of hazards involved in the jobs

Furthermore, the participants were also made to understand the importance of unsafe act/condition and near misreporting, improved risk- based thinking, improved understanding of responsibility towards safety and improved competency and safety culture.

Participants were also taken through the rudiments of how to use fire