The power sector suffered a "dark era" under former president Olusegun Obasanjo when it failed to manage human resources and fell short of 4,000MW target, analyst Lawal Abdulhamid has said.

Adbulhamid, head of the consultancy firm Ultimate Management, said the sector failed by bringing its under under a technical committee, which "failed to attain the target of 4,000MW in spite of huge resources committed to it" was because of insufficient "motivation and knowledge of its human assets."

Speaking during a workshop on techniques in power sector accounts and lean financial management, Abdulhamid said tagging the committee as technical created the impression that "all that matter most to attain the 4,000MW was power equipment rehabilitation with complete neglect of human assets in PHCN [Power Holding Company of Nigeria]."

He observed that the focus on technical led to violation of worker condition service, stagnation of yearly promotion causing many to remain on the same grade for as long as nine years.

Adbulhamid suggested that President Goodluck Jonathan's administration should ensure "all labour issues are adequately addressed before the conclusion of the privatisation of PHCN successor companies."