The Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, last week in Benin expressed unflinching support for the proposed privatisation of power assets in the country.

Oshiomhole also urged the labour leaders to support President Goodluck Jonathan’s reform programme for Nigeria’s power sector because it is the only option left to make the country work.

“I support privatisation; I support the reform,” he declared to a stunned audience of union officials who are participating in the 9th Delegates Conference of the National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, which took place in Benin, the Edo State Capital.

NUEE, comprising junior workers, is the arrowhead of union opposition against the ongoing privatisation of 17 Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN successor companies.

The Governor asked his erstwhile trade union colleagues to think through their current opposition to the reform and adopt a strategy that will benefit workers of PHCN and the Nigerian people.

“It is high time union leaders (in the sector) eschewed selfish interest and embrace public interest for public welfare. This convention must therefore show the true character of the union ideal which among other things improves the quality of lives of its members and the general citizenry.”

Think workers and Nigerians first

The governor singled out the Secretary General of NUEE, Mr. Joe Ajaero, and implored him to think first of the welfare of workers he is leading and the interest of the Nigerian people as he prosecutes his campaign of opposition.

“Ajaero, you must help Nigerians to return to a productive country. You should not look for the quick fixes but must look at the short, medium and long term. The challenge of modern times is that union leaders must now think more dynamically; must move with the times. I support this privatisation; I support the reform. But you have the right to protect the welfare agenda of the employees.”

The Governor argued that what Nigeria invested in the power sector is what the people of Nigeria are harvesting now.

“If we invest the right resources in the power sector, we will definitely get the right results. How long will Nigerians continue to lament the deplorable state of the power sector? The current situation has created a lot of economic difficulties, resulting in unemployment, stagnation, decay and hardship, even on PHCN workers themselves and the general public. We cannot continue to do the same things over and over again and expect a different result,” he said.

Correcting past mistakes

Oshiomhole said he was constrained to speak the truth to his junior colleagues because he had made the same mistakes in the past when, as President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, he opposed privatisation.

He, however, pointed out that even as he opposed privatisation, he backed the privatisation of the power sector in particular, and spoke of an urgent need for decentralisation and liberalisation to promote efficiency and better management of the sector.

“If Nigeria delivers the needed power, this definitely means that there will be job employment which will in effect promote productivity and economic growth. To keep the sector the same will only damage our productive capacity.

“We must therefore join hands with the new drive in the power sector reform and ensure that it is carried out in a fashion that both the workers and the general public will benefit.

“Leadership of the union must therefore look for a way to creatively engage the federal government on the welfare of workers and support the privatisation programme. We must support privatisation for better service and efficiency.  If we don’t privatise the power sector, it will destroy us.”

He asked the union executives to take advantage of the presence of the Power Minister, Prof. Bart Nnaji, to work out a good package for their members rather than pursue extraneous issues.

“You must assist Prof. Nnaji, especially because he is not your everyday politician. For the first time, the (power) sector is in the hands of a professional and you should take advantage of it. The Power Ministry is a hazardous position to take and he (Nnaji) has put his personal and professional reputation on the line by accepting the position.

He would not leave his job and a thriving career in the United States to come here and do this job if he does not believe in it. You should give Prof. Nnaji your support. Nigerians should support him and his team,” he said.

Giant strides in power

Earlier, Nnaji, narrated the giant efforts made by the Jonathan administration to take care of the welfare of PHCN workers. Among these, he said, were the payment N57billion monetization benefits to PHCN workers; a 50% increase in salaries for all workers; setting aside funds for payment of retirement benefits post privatisation; regularising the employment of some 11,000 casual workers; and giving PHCN workers opportunity to own shares in the privatised successor companies.

He said that the 50 per cent salary increase has shot up PHCN’s wage bill from N7billion to N11billion per month, thereby consuming the entire monthly revenue. Government has also provided N9billion to offset this bill for the first three months, he said.

“To sustain the new bill, both the management and staff of each successor company as well as those of the PHCN Corporate Headquarters need to work harder than ever before; the revenue profile has to improve considerably and soon,” the minister said.