SENATOR URGES FG TO OUTSOURCE BPE

Senator Gbenga Ashafa representing Lagos east senatorial district has asked the FG to outsource the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) immediately, saying 'this is the only drastic measure that can help to bring merit into future privatisation process.'

This came barely a month after the senate ad-hoc committee on privatisation, headed by Senator Ahmad Lawan, submitted its report to the senate.

And some of the recommendations were: the revocation of most privatised government companies and the removal of director-general of BPE, Mrs. Bola Onagoruwa which are yet to be fully implemented.

Ashafa who gave this remarks at a press briefing held in Lagos, to mark his 180 days as a federal legislature representing Lagos east senatorial district, said that the bureau has failed in discharging it constitutional responsibilities which is to look at all the Federal Government enterprises that are not functioning perfectly and recommend them for privatisation.

'This has brought complicities in the sale of federal government enterprises and it would never stop as long as the President Goodluck Jonathan appoints the Director-General of the bureau.'

Ashafa explain that the purpose of the privatisation is to give FG properties to those who have the required fund to resuscitate them, employing more Nigerians, improve on the economic standard of the country, but this has not been achieved.

On the solution to avoid future irregularities in the privatisation exercise in Nigeria, Ashafa said 'the job of privatisation should be awarded to private or international firms that are very much acclaimed and would want to protect their names. Even if it will require us awarding the contract to two reputable companies, to help do the job diligently and then sell, we should do it.'