By DANIEL IDONOR

ABUJA- Chairman of National Council on Privatisation, NCP, Vice- President Namadi Sambo, Monday, expressed worries over the deplorable condition of Ajaokuta Steel Company and directed its management to properly engage its workforce.

Suggesting the possibility of an electric power company of being invited by the Federal Government to manage the power plant of the company, Sambo said in the mean time, the staff of the ailing firm should be properly engaged.

Similarly,  the Vice President has directed the management of Nigerian Telecommunication Limited, NITEL/M-TEL, to make available a comprehensive details of its liabilities and partnership deals to the Council.

Sambo, who gave the directive at the meeting of NCP in the State House, Abuja, urged Nitel to produce its detailed liabilities, partnership agreements and proposal in a power point format to the council during in their next meeting.

He said the directive was necessary as the outcome of the presentation would enable the Technical Committee of the Council to review and discuss on the issues affecting the company.

Council also directed the Director General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises to prepare a detailed report on power sector reforms to be presented at the National Economic Council on November 10, 2011.

Sambo advised that due diligence must be observed and companies that submit fraudulent claims should be sanctioned.

He said government has shares in most of the companies it sold and wants to know how much these companies remit as dividends each year.

Sambo noted that there should be proper enlightenment campaign on government programmes and the activities of those who sabotage government’s efforts at providing social amenities to Nigerians especially in the power sector.