• Stakeholders commend Dekalu Thomas’ leadership,
• Reaffirms commitment to transparency, collaboration, and sustainable solutions to post-privatization challenges.
The management of the Nigeria Electricity Liability Management Company (NELMCO) held the second edition of its annual Strategic Stakeholders’ Engagement with over 40 Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), aimed at strengthening collaboration, promoting accountability, and advancing reforms in Nigeria’s power sector.
The one-day engagement, held at the Stratton Hotel, Asokoro, Abuja on Tuesday, brought together the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of NELMCO, Mrs. Mojoyinoluwa Dekalu-Thomas, senior directors, special advisers, personal assistants, and representatives of civil society groups across the country. Themed “Establishing a National Power Assets Register for Nigeria’s Power Sector,” the meeting provided a platform for frank discussions on the way forward in addressing long-standing challenges in the electricity value chain.
In her presentation, Mrs. Dekalu-Thomas emphasized that NELMCO remains central to the Federal Government’s efforts to tackle post-privatization debts and liquidity challenges that continue to impede growth in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI). She noted that, in alignment with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, NELMCO has been entrusted with additional responsibilities to drive measurable progress and operational efficiency across the sector.
Referencing the President’s March 7, 2024 statement affirming NELMCO’s pivotal role in ensuring expeditious and measurable progress in managing the power sector’s liabilities, Mrs. Dekalu-Thomas stated that while the task is complex, modalities have been developed to ease, if not completely eliminate, the financial burdens that have long constrained the industry.
She reiterated her commitment to transparent and accountable leadership, stressing that the active participation of civil society remains crucial for ensuring public confidence and fairness in the reform process.
Speaking on behalf of the CSOs, Comrade Ogakwu commended Mrs. Dekalu-Thomas for her visionary leadership and consistency in pursuing reform within the power sector. He noted that since her appointment, NELMCO has demonstrated resilience, innovation, and a renewed sense of direction, reflecting the spirit of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“Mrs. Dekalu-Thomas has shown exceptional leadership and dedication in tackling long-standing sectoral challenges. Her performance has inspired confidence among stakeholders, and we believe she deserves even greater responsibilities in the service of the nation,” Ogakwu remarked.
The session concluded on an optimistic note, with participants agreeing that sustained collaboration between NELMCO and the CSO community will strengthen transparency, enhance data management through the proposed National Power Assets Register, and accelerate Nigeria’s journey toward a more stable and efficient power sector.