IF the new rules announced by the Federal Government yesterday are anything to go by, recruitment into the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) and other power utilities would no longer be business as usual.Reason: Emphasis will now be placed on the acquisition of relevant electricity energy and related skills in addition to whatever degrees or qualifications an applicant might have.Head of Service of the Federation, Isa Bello Sali, who spoke in Abuja yesterday, stressed that only the best would henceforth be required in the power sector to make it more competitive and able to sustain the tempo of reforms.He noted that just acquiring a bachelor or masters degree won't be enough to gain employment into the power sector anymore, as the Federal Government moves to create greater emphasis on the possession of practical skills.'This definitely will go more than just being in the possession of a Bachelor or Master degree in electric engineering or power related courses. In other words possession of practical skills and proven track record will be the requisite qualification of practitioners in the sector,' he said.The Head of Service, who spoke at the launch of the graduate skills development programme of the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN), stressed that relevant courses were being established to ensure that those interested in acquiring related skills were supported to do so.About 236 graduates were trained and inducted into the NAPTIN graduate skills development programme, as part of the immediate programmes to improve human capacity in the power sector.Salid said of the graduate training scheme: 'The programme has been conceived with great foresight to place participants at advantage for openings which I know will be keenly contested. The power equation is being solved. The realisation that human capacity development is a key factor in solving the equation has brought us nearer to that solution. This is part of the Federal Government's plan to plug the enormous skill gap in the power industry.'According to statistics gathered from PHCN successor companies, 8,400 skilled employees are the immediate deficit in technical manpower needed to sustain the sector.'Speaking on behalf of NAPTIN, Fatima Jubril, said the graduate programme was designed as a one year practical training programme to prepare graduates for careers in the power sector.Her words: 'In five years, 17,441 additional technical manpower would be required. This huge gap betweaen the actual skilled manpower and skilled manpower required is increasing annually and there is the urgent need to arrest the trend through an intensive structured programme. It will equip them within one year with the requisite skills and practical know-how required to make them ready for engagement in the different fields and professions of generation, transmission and distribution.
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