President Muhammadu Buhari has sacked the management of Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) over Monday’s strike by the staff.

The Federal Government also described the non-performance and incompetence of the AEDC as a national embarrassment.

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Kogi, Nasarawa, Kaduna and parts of Edo were in total blackout between 7a.m. to about 8p.m. on Monday following the industrial action.

Minister of State for Power, Mr. Goddy Jeddy-Agba, on Tuesday said the sack which was conveyed by the presidency to the Federal Ministry of Power takes immediate effect.

Jeddy-Agba said that a new interim governing board had been appointed to oversee the day-to-day operations of the distribution company.

He said: “Following the recent industrial action embarked on by its staff over non-payment of arrears of pensions, allowances, salaries and promotion.

“The Minister of Power, Mr Aliyu Abubakar and the Minister of State Power, Mr. Goddy Jedy Agba had earlier on intervened through dialogue with the ministry of labour, Bureau of Public Enterprise, and the Nigerian Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), to resolve and call off the 14 hours strike action.”

He said the presidential directives as conveyed had also directed the Bureau of Public Enterprises to set up a new management team for the AEDC,

“However in a memorandum of understanding (MOU), jointly signed by Jedy- Agba, the chairman, Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Sanusi Garba; Director-General Bureau of Public Enterprises, Alex Okoli, Joe Ajaero on behalf of the union; the Federal Government has ordered the suspension of the strike, given 21 days within which the outstanding emoluments and entitlements of staff will be paid.

“Government has described the non-performance and incompetence of the AEDC as a national embarrassment, saying the suspension of the management team subsists until further notice,” it said.