President Barrow receives sobering report on NAWEC performance: Calls for accountability, improvement

On Wednesday, President Adama Barrow received a comprehensive report from the Commission on State-Owned Enterprises (SOE) regarding the National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC).

The meeting, which included NAWEC’s Board and management, highlighted significant concerns about the company’s performance over the past two years.

Led by Chairman Mr. Ousainou Ngum, the Commissioners presented their findings on NAWEC’s financial, technical, operational, and management performance for 2021-2022. The report revealed that NAWEC met only 30% and 20% of its Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for 2021 and 2022, respectively, based on a 2017 baseline. Executive Secretary Mr. Bai Madi Ceesay detailed the methodology, while the Chairman urged NAWEC to develop strategies to overcome these challenges.

In his response, President Barrow acknowledged the importance of the SOE Commission’s work in holding institutions accountable, a key component of his administration’s public sector reform agenda.

He emphasized that NAWEC must take responsibility for its performance and avoid excuses, highlighting the necessity of reliable electricity for the Gambian people.

As a consequence of the poor performance, the Commission announced a 5% salary reduction for NAWEC staff. The next appraisal will be stringent, taking into account the support NAWEC receives from the Gambian government and international partners.

The top management was urged to address the issues seriously, given the critical role of electricity in the country.

NAWEC officials argued that the 2017 baseline was unfair due to the lack of audited accounts and transitional challenges during that year. Honourable Nani Juwara, former Managing Director and current Minister of Petroleum and Energy, suggested using 2022 figures for a fairer assessment, noting recent system improvements. He expressed optimism for future performance enhancements.