We will answer all those who have held Nigeria down with our PVCs in 2023-NUEE

 

By allcitynews.ng

 

 

The National Union of Electricity Employees of Nigeria (NUEE) has explained why it is against the new move to further sell off what belongs to the Nigerian masses.

As it assured them that Nigerian workers will answer all those who have held Nigeria down with our PVCs in 2023.

Expressing displeasure in the fresh move, NUEE leadership faulted the campaign promises by People Democratic Party (PDP) presidential aspirant, Abubakar Atiku, describing it as another promise over to throw the country back into another round of deprivation if he is elected as the 16th president of Nigeria in 2023.

Describing his promises as dead on arrival promises, the General Secretary of NUEE, Comrade Joe Ajaero wondered how his main focus if voted in is the sell off the remaining public utilities years after privatised companies have failed to bring the needed turnaround growth and development.

Ajaero pointed out that ” our attention has been drawn to Newspaper reports released by the Presidential Candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Abubakar Atiku, rolling out a three-point agenda, targeting Privatisation of Refineries, Rail Sector, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and breaking monopoly of all other infrastructure operations.

“It is with a deep sense of patriotism that we inform Nigerians about the present motive of this Presidential Candidate who seems to want to finish what is left of our common patrimony as a Nation.”

Moreover Ajaero noted that since Atiku was the Chairman of the National Council on Privatization (NCP), a Government Committee entrusted with the responsibility of managing the privatisation program initiated by the Olusegun Obasanjo administration to handle the disposal of public enterprises, no tangible progress came out from those exercises, his second attempt if voted into power would further jeopardise the interest of the masses in dividends of good governance.

“Some persons have been alleged of literally buying almost every enterprise on offer through their cronies and fronts.
Of the over 60 enterprises privatized when he became NCP Chairman in 1999, how many of them are functioning optimally? From the Osogbo Steel rolling mill which has become a glorified warehouse to the abysmal performances of the Privatised Generation Companies (GenCos) and Distribution Companies (DisCos) over eight (8) years after privatisation.

From Seventeen (17) out of the Eighteen (18) Companies sold in the Power Sector, none is yet to break even while the Federal Government has pumped in about 2Trillion naira as subvention to these privately owned companies, power generation has nose dived from 4000 mega Watts to 2000 Mega Watts in 9 years.

As an organisation, we had raised alarm over the years about the security implication of handing over the entire (security) Power Sector in the hands of private individuals.

Who are the ‘faceless’ owners of these private companies and why are they shrouded in so much secrecy?
Since this Privatisation agenda commenced, many Nigerians lost their jobs, many Nigerians have died as a result of non payment of their entitlements, many Nigerians are sick and hungry with their children thrown out of school as the onslaught against Nigerian masses continue in the name of privatisation.

Challenging Atiku to a debate on national television debate to prove how this retrogressive economic policy will impact positively on the masses, Ajaero stressed,
“never again shall we swallow the hemlock, never again shall Nigerians make room for private gains, public disaster.”