BY VICTYOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

AMALGAMATED Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and recreational Services Employees, AUPCTRE, implored the Senate to thoroughly investigate all the privatized enterprises and determine the processes and the extent they met national interests.

Among others, leaders of AUPCTRE, at the end of their National Executive Council, NEC, in Lagos, implored the Senate to investigate the concession/sale of the National International Trade Fair Complex, Lagos and disclose the names of the personages that own the complex.

In a communiqué by the union’s Acting General Secretary, Phillip Agbonkonkon, the end of the NEC meeting, commended the Senate Committee on the on-going investigation on privatization of public enterprises.

According to the union, “the investigation so far is very revealing”, condemning alleged “fleecing of our commonwealth by few individuals” in the name of pribvatisation.

The communiqué said, “NEC calls on the Senate to thoroughly investigate all the privatized enterprises and determine the processes and the extent they met national interests. Investigate the concession/sale of the National International Trade Fair Complex, Lagos and disclose the names of the personages that own the complex.

The NEC notes with dismay that the National International Trade Fair, Lagos has remained in a state of disuse since it was concessioned/sold. The NEC calls on the Senate Committee to in view of the revelations which bordered on unethical and immoral circumstances surrounding the sales of our commonwealth, reveal those involved, recover all the assets and met out to them appropriate punishments.”

On status and autonomy of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, members of the union’s NEC lamented the subterranean activities of vested interests in government to undermine status and autonomy of the NDDC and to place it under the Ministerial supervision rather than the presidency as provided by the enabling Act.

They acknowledged that the interventionist character of the NDDC and the sensitive nature of its operations informed its supervision by the office of the President through the Secretary to Government of the Federation.

Members of NEC urged President Goodluck Jonathan to resist the on-going campaign on the status and autonomy of the Agency and retain the Agency under the President.

Similarly, on restructuring of government agencies, NEC members considered and deliberated on the recent committee headed by the former Head of Service of the Federation Mr. Steve Oronsaye to restructure all government parastatals in the country.

According to members of NEC, “the rationale according to government is to reduce duplication of functions which some of these government agencies carried out. The NEC in session was emphatic and advised the committee to be caution in carrying out its assignment. This is because as the NEC noted the primary purpose which some of the specialized agencies were set up is not lost and very much valid.”