By Adama Makasuba
The Commission on State-owned Enterprises has announced a 5% reduction in the workforce of the National Water and Electricity Company due to their failure to meet Key Performance Indicators (KPI) targets for 2021-2022. Chairman Mr. Ousainou Ngum and the Commissioners presented their evaluation of NAWEC’s performance during the specified period, which scrutinized the company’s financial, technical, operational, and management aspects. It was revealed that NAWEC only achieved 30% and 20% of the designated KPI targets for 2021 and 2022, respectively. Mr. Bai Madi Ceesay, the Executive Secretary, specified that the baseline for the Key Performance Indicators was set in 2017. Following the assessment, Chairman Ngum offered NAWEC the opportunity to strategize and overcome the challenges to improve its future performance.
In response to the report, President Barrow expressed that the work of the SOE Commission is an essential first step in holding institutions accountable, a key aspect of his administration’s public sector reform agenda. While acknowledging NAWEC’s challenges, President Barrow stressed the importance of the institution taking responsibility for its performance rather than making excuses. Acknowledging NAWEC’s recent efforts, the President directed the Commission to implement its recommendations while considering the steps NAWEC has taken in recent times. “The Commission will implement a 5% reduction in the salaries of NAWEC staff for not meeting the Key Performance Indicators (KPI) targets set for 2021-2022. The SOE Commission will fully implement the next appraisal recommendations, considering the support NAWEC is currently receiving from the Government of The Gambia and its partners. The senior management is urged to take the challenges seriously, as electricity is vital to the lives of the people, and the commitment to deliver must be upheld,” the report stated.
The NAWEC officials contended that using 2017 as a baseline for assessment was unfair, as the company faced challenges in obtaining audited accounts for that year and went through a difficult transition. Honorable Nani Juwara, the former managing director and current minister of petroleum and energy, advocated using figures from 2022 as a fairer baseline, considering the current situation and improvements in the system. He expressed optimism that a strong foundation had been laid for improved performance. The current managing director, Gallo Saidy, stated that they had accepted the decision and pledged to redouble their efforts and his team to achieve better performance. He stressed that the presence of senior management was a clear indication that everyone should take responsibility for enhancing the company’s performance.
In February 2023, President Barrow oversaw the signing of Performance Contracts with State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) to address underperformance issues. Following the passage of the SOE Bill and the establishment of the SOE Commission, distinguished Gambian experts from diverse fields were appointed to support the enhancement of service delivery performance within the SOEs.
