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Miffed by the total abandonment of the Ajaokuta steel company several decades after it was established, Nigeria Ethnic Nationalities Youth Leaders Council Worldwide has called on the federal government to salvage the moribund company from total collapse.
In a statement signed by Comrade Terry Obeih, President General, Niger Delta Ethnic Nationalities Youth Leaders/NENYLCW, Alhaji Balarabe Rufai, President, Northern Youth Council/ Vice President, NENYLCW, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, National President, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide/ Publicity Secretary, NENYLCW, Comrade Emmanuel Zopmal, President, Middle-Belt Youth Council/ Organising Secretary, NENYLCW and Alhaji Hamisu Dass, President, North-East Youth Assembly/Treasurer, NENYLC., the group said :
“It is with deep sense of patriotism and concern for the economic and technological advancement of our dear country Nigeria that we once more express our concern over the anomaly, economic sabotage, non-transparency in contract agreements, and irregular employment that have become endemic at the Ajaokuta Steel Company in Kogi State.
“We recall that last year, we received with delight the intention of the Nigerian Senate to probe into the activities of this very important national asset.
‘We are happy that the Red Chamber went ahead to set up an ad-hoc committee to that effect. However, we urge the committee to do a thorough job in the interest of the nation. On our part, we are ever ready to appear before that all important committee with our suggestions on the way forward. Our interest is to see that the Ajaokuta Company enjoys a new lease of life.
“We also want to emphatically appreciate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for his commitment to enhance economic growth through industrialization. This will dramatically reduce the unemployment rate that has caused youth restiveness. We equally want to appreciate the frantic efforts of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to ensure that the Ajaokuta steel company is being revived to optimal utilization. Our appreciation also goes to the Honourable Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu for his tireless commitment to bring the company back to life.
“It is in our candid opinion that Nigeria must progress in the best interest of our generation and the next generation. However, we want to express deepest concerns over the deplorable condition of the Ajaokuta Steel Company, which has suffered years of neglect and massive corruption. No nation can meaningfully advance without utilizing the steel industry.
“As part of the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr President, the time has come for this all important national asset to receive adequate attention and to be salvaged from those who don’t mean well for the economic prosperity of our dear country, Nigeria.”
The statement further mentioned that given the strategic importance of the steel industry in national development, we want to draw the immediate attention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the ugly situation of the Ajaokuta Steel Company.
“The company does not have a management team up to this moment. It is being run by a Sole Administrator as though we are under a military task force.
“The company suffers shabby recruitment of personnel, which does not even reflect the Federal Character principle.
” There is no existing board to oversee the overall affairs of the company. In this instance, the Sole Administrator serves as both the Managing Director and Board members of the company.
“There’s been no accountability on the financial management of the company for decades now. “
In order to avoid the mistakes committed from 2003 during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo and late President Musa Yar’Adua which plans to fully resuscitate the company and make it fully operational were disrupted that time, we call on the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and other patriotic Nigerians ensure that the following actions are taken:
1. There should be an immediate audit of the workforce of the Ajaokuta Steel Company to ascertain the nominal roll and the Federal Character representation of the personnel;
2. The payroll of the company must be audited;
3. The appointment of a Sole Administrator must be stopped with immediate effect. The Managing Director as the head of the management team and Board members of the company should be constituted immediately to ensure effective and efficient service delivery.
4. The management of the company should be structured with project managers to head un-commissioned units and directors to head the commissioned units of the company.
5. We call on the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to conduct a thorough investigation of the financial management of the company in the past 20 years no
6. There should be absolute disclosure of the partnership agreement of the company with the consortia. Nigerians are fed up with shaddy agreements like that of Mambilla Hydropower, which was trapped by mischievous consortium partners. Nigerians deserve to know what is being signed.
7. The agreement on Ajaokuta Steel Company should be between the federal government and the consortium. No more middlemen in the process of the agreement.
