*Alerts on abandoned 60 containers of 52KVA transformers by FG
10 May 2015, Abuja – In apparent response to the statement made by the out-going minister of power, Professor Chinedu Nebo, on the need for the in-coming administration not to tamper with the privatization of the power sector, electricity workers in the country have demanded a thorough review of the privatization of Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, alle-ging that the privatization project was fraught with irregularities.
The workers further alleged that the privatisation exercise had made electricity generation and consumption in the country ineffective.
The workers, under the aegis of National Union of Electricity Emplo-yees, NUEE, insisted that the payment of over N200 billion to the private sector by the government after the privatization exercise leaves much to be desired, and urged the incoming administration of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, rtd, to revisit the exercise.
The executive members of the union, led by the General Secretary and factional President of Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, Comrade Joe Ajaero, said this in Abuja, while conducting select journalists round the site of abandoned 60 containers of 52KVA electricity transformers, at Kubwa, in Abuja.
Speaking on behalf of the NUEE executive members, Ajaero argued that if after many months, privatization of electricity in the country had failed to bring positive impact to electricity consumers, then, there was the need for the Buhari-led presidency to revisit the programme.
Comrade Ajaero said: “We want to say, as a union that the sham called privatization should be revisited. If privatization, as we were told, was to bring us heaven-on-earth elderado, and it has not done that, why should we insist on it?.
“Of course, our position as NUEE, has been no to privatization, especially given that we are an underdeveloped economy. It is the function of the state to provide power.
“Even the so called privatization, you can see that even this year alone, between January and now, they have even given the so called private sector over N200 billion. So, why fund them if you say the electricity is in the hands of the private sector? That brings you to the point of the fraud on who owns them.
“Why would you sell your house to somebody and you still give him money to maintain it? So, it’s a fraud.”
Emphasizing on the minister’s comment that privatization of PHCN must stay, Ajaero added: “We want Buhari to ask questions first and foremost because it is wrong for a an out-going minister to be setting agenda for Buhari to reverse or not to reverse the privatization of PHCN.
“A minister who inherited about 4000 megawatts and is today, battling with just 2000 and something megawatts, doesn’t have the moral courage to advise incoming government on what to do.
Ajaero stressed: “If he Buhari asks questions for some months, he will now know the direction to move.”
On the abandoned containers, Ajaero said he was alerted on the abandoned equipments by concerned citizens who got wind of the development.
“With these transformers hidden here, you can now understand that while they were privatizing, certain properties were being hidden, “he alleged.
*Johnbosco Agbakwuru-Vanguard
