Onebuchi Ezigbo
12 January 2009
Abuja — Telecommunication workers under the aegis of National Association of Telecommunications Employees (NATE) and the Senior Staff Association of Communications, Transport and Corporations (SSACTAC) have called on the Minister of Information and Communication, Professor Dora Akunyili, to conduct fresh investigation into the process leading to the privatisation of the Nigerian Telecommunication Limited (NITEL) and its sister company, Nigeria Mobile Telecommunication (Mtel).
The employees in separate letters to the minister requested for an urgent and lasting solution to the lingering crisis in both companies.
Particularly, the Unions urged the new minister to use her good office to revisit records of the privatisation exercise of the companies between 2001 before the privatisation exercise to date to determine if it was properly executed.
According to the Union, the companies were first handed over to Pentascope between 2003 and 2005 and then the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) took over between 2005 and 2006 before it was acquired by Transnational Corporation (Transcorp) from 2006 to date.
The aggrieved workers also called for investigation of the details of the liquidation of non-core assets of both companies by the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) through Messrs. Adekanola & Co. nion's letter dated 22nd December 2008 and titled "Welcome to the beat" signed by NATE National President, Mr. Charles Amankwe,and NATE Assistant National Secretary, Yisa Jacob, noted that Prof. Akunyili's posting to the information sector brought about a renewed hope that the lingering problem in the sector might be solved afterall.
A copy of the letter which was also copied to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) reads: "The former Minister's handing over note must have said a lot but we doubt if it will tell you why government revoked the sale of NITEL to Transcorp and in less than two weeks change that decision.
It may not contain the fact that after over two years of Transcorp managing NITEL/Mtel, Nigerians cannot remember when last they use NITEL lines. It may not include the fact that staff are being owed six months slary. However, he must have mentioned the issues of privatisation ad re-privatisation of NITEL.
"As you settle down, you may need to take a closer look at the following: NITEL/Mtel before privatisation (2001); NITEL/Mtel during Pentascope (2003-2005); NITEL/Mtel under BPE (2005-2006) and NITEL/Mtel under Transcorp (2006 to date) with a view to finding out the following, what was the status of the company before, during and after privatisation; why the issue of re-privatisation; how best can the government intervene to save the company from total collapse; convince the public that government is not sacrificing the interest of majority for a few; resolve the labour crisis (payment of salary arrears and severance package for staff disengaged due to privatisation) and speeding up the process of a new core investor."
The union regretted that the problem rocking the company is putting undue pressure on the other PTOs and Nigerians every passing day, adding that Akunyili should use the same zeal which she demonstrated in NAFDAC to combat the drug barons to a stand-still to unravel those whom they described as "highly placed individuals" in government circle and out of government to a stand-still.
"As you fought the drug barons in your former beat (NAFDAC), you must be ready to fight some highly placed individuals both in government and out of government who are benefiting in the fall of NITEL/Mtel .
"To such people, privatisation means sacrificing government social responsibility for selfish gains fort a few. What government intended was a deregulated telecoms industry where competition, fair-play and quality service is provided for all Nigerians at affordable prize.
"This can still be achieved as you bring your knowledge and experience into the telecoms industry.", said NATE.
The workers had blamed BPE and the liquidator of the companies' assets for failing to advertise the properties being liquidated in the national dailies, adding that the exercise was not transparent as it was in the case of sales of Federal Government's non-core assets which was handled by the Ad-hoc Committee on the sales of Federal Government houses in Abuja.
Some of the properties listed as already sold include NITEL's landed properties Garki exchange, Area 11, Abuja; No 15 Bank Road, Victoria Island, Lagos; Lagos zonal headquarters, Falomo Lagos; zonal headquarters locate at Gombe road, Bauchi; South-East zonal headquarters, Enugu and the zonal headquarters in Kaduna.
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Akuyili wants to conduct an investigation of Nitel/Mitel privatisation. One needs to make sure that her own house is clean befor trying to clean another man's house. We equally need to look into the assination attempt that she claimed happend when she was in her village some years ago. Per her story the bullet (mind you one bullet) went through her scarf. I guess the armed men had only one bullet. Who have heard that assinators shot only once if they are trying to assasinate a victim. She need to tell this story again. She has dug her grave by leaving NAFDEC. I guess this is Nigeria at its best reshuffling our money amongs their fellow theives. Dora Akuyili your days are numbered. You are about to tarnish your good image.