A
abujagirl
Guest
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) have given conditions for the privatization of refineries in the country.
Mr Oluwaseyi Gambo, PENGASSAN spokesman said that the association and the Federal Government have agreed on what should be done before the commencement of the privatization of the refineries.
He said they agreed that the process must not be shrouded in secrecy and indecency like the situation in the sale of Eleme Petrochemical in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
"NUPENG and PENGASSAN, which are operating in these refineries on behalf of Nigerians, must be on the committee that will decide on the privatisation model and draw up the template. We will like to see that Nigerians will have greater participation in the operation of these national assets by way of public quotation on the stock exchange",he said.
"We will jointly evaluate the worth of the assets so that Nigerians are not short-changed as there are valid reasons to believe the refineries are set to be sold at peanuts to interest groups. The argument has been that if government says the said refineries are worthless and can’t work, what kind of investors will want to invest good money in plants that are valueless?.
"Privatisation does not translate to loss of jobs if the buyers have their matrices right. We have to agree on the welfare of our members who have been in the front-line, risking their lives in the hydrocarbon environment for years.
"There must be commitment to employment and investment. We will not agree to what took place in NICON Insurance, Air Nigeria and Daily Times to mention a few. Nigerians are wiser now",Gambo added.
Gambo said that the unions would mobilize Nigerians, civil societies and international community against any kind of manipulation.
Mr Oluwaseyi Gambo, PENGASSAN spokesman said that the association and the Federal Government have agreed on what should be done before the commencement of the privatization of the refineries.
He said they agreed that the process must not be shrouded in secrecy and indecency like the situation in the sale of Eleme Petrochemical in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
"NUPENG and PENGASSAN, which are operating in these refineries on behalf of Nigerians, must be on the committee that will decide on the privatisation model and draw up the template. We will like to see that Nigerians will have greater participation in the operation of these national assets by way of public quotation on the stock exchange",he said.
"We will jointly evaluate the worth of the assets so that Nigerians are not short-changed as there are valid reasons to believe the refineries are set to be sold at peanuts to interest groups. The argument has been that if government says the said refineries are worthless and can’t work, what kind of investors will want to invest good money in plants that are valueless?.
"Privatisation does not translate to loss of jobs if the buyers have their matrices right. We have to agree on the welfare of our members who have been in the front-line, risking their lives in the hydrocarbon environment for years.
"There must be commitment to employment and investment. We will not agree to what took place in NICON Insurance, Air Nigeria and Daily Times to mention a few. Nigerians are wiser now",Gambo added.
Gambo said that the unions would mobilize Nigerians, civil societies and international community against any kind of manipulation.