Kebbi South AM Seeks Traditional Rulers, Stakeholders Support
CCD: You are one of the Area Manager appointed recently, how do you feel being among the selected?
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Alhamdulillah, every human want to be associated with success and this is one out of many favors my creature has done for me, it is purely the will of Allah he chooses and elevates whom he so wishes at his own time, I thank him and pray for his guidance on this task and beyond.
CCD: What do you think are the most challenging aspects of your assignment as Area Manager?
RS: Working in the power sector is so demanding and generally challenging especially at the distribution corners. As an Area Manager you are expected to manage customers and staff to do the right thing in order to get the expected revenue, that is not an easy task.
CCD: Can you breakdown in details the performance of the Area Office in the last six months?
RS: I wouldn't want to go into the past records of the area office, I would rather pay attention to what we will employ in terms of strategies to improve on how we met it. In our first month we improved the collection with about 10-million-naira difference and I believe there are huge potentials untapped, which our team will do everything possible to change the narration and figures positively.
CCD: How are you coping with the menace of vandalism?
RS: Well it's part of the reasons why within the first ten days of assuming duty, despite the security challenges in Kebbi South AO I had to go round our coverage area for special sensitization and had a meeting with the traditional rulers, major stakeholder’s, paramilitary inclusive and seek for their support to safeguard our installations from vandals. We have so far set community based committees and we are in constant contact with them to see how we can reduce this menace to the barest minimum.
CCD: How is your Area Office fearing in terms of collection vis-a-vis the target?
RS: I'm so glad and proud of the Management team I'm working with because they have been very supportive, understanding, cooperative and that is all I need to Excel.
We are just starting now and our first month collection was good and we are hoping subsequent months will be better, we are determined to work month in month out as a team to make Kebbi South one of the best if not the best AO in Kaduna Electric.
CCD: There are some customers that are not responding to payment of their bills which also contributes to our loses, what do you think is the course of this poor customers response and what are you doing to reverse the trend?
RS: We are service providers of essential product therefore we must be professional in our approaches and dealings to get things right.
You cannot take away customers with some negative mindsets but I'm assuring you a lot of customers are willing to change if we will take our time to enlighten them. Changing the poor customer response trend requires improving your negotiation skills, respect for our customers and frequent sensitization.
CCD: Tapping from your wealth of experience, what does it take to be a good leader?
RS: Leadership is the most difficult thing, to be a good leader you must be patient, accommodating, selfless and above all willing to shoulder and accept responsibilities at all time.
As we grow we must have it at the back of our minds that people falls under different categories so also how they act, react, think and judge therefore accept their shortcomings, correct them privately and protect them silently.
Create an avenue where people will feel safe around you this makes them believes in you. And you must prove without any doubt your willingness to support them in their daily routine and if possible their personal life.
CCD: What is the success story behind Rilwanu Shehu and what is the most difficult decision you have ever taken in any official capacity?
RS: 'smile' Prayers from family and friends especially my colleagues here in Kaduna Electric. They have made my way so smooth and safe with their daily prayers this I cannot thank them enough.
Well, I think the most difficult decision I have ever taken was leaving the public sector to join the private sector which I can boldly say I'm not regretting now. And for internal decisions here in Kaduna electric I always pray over anything that comes my way and seek further advice from my senior colleagues and Alhamdulillah so far so good the journey is hitch free.
