The Nigeria Ethnic Nationalities Youth Leaders Council Worldwide, NENYLCW, on Friday, demanded a thorough probe of the moribund Abeokuta Steel Company.
The youth leaders made the demand in Abuja during a press conference attended by representatives of the various ethnic youth groups across the country.
At the press conference were 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.
They said their stand was in view of the endless setbacks the Ajaokuta Steel Company had faced despite efforts by past administrations to revive the national asset.
The youths decried what they called “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,” they noted.
They, however, expressed deep 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.”
They stressed that the steel industry was critical to national development, cutting across construction, manufacturing, automotive, agriculture, security and infrastructure.
According to them, “giving this 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 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:
“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;
“The payroll of the company must be audited;
“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.
“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.
“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 now.
“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.
“The agreement on Ajaokuta Steel Company should be between the Federal Government and the consortium. No more middlemen in the process of the agreement.
“In the area of consortium, there are questions begging for answers:
“We are being told now that some Russians are in Ajaokuta conducting technical audits of the plant. This should supposedly be a cheering news but some pertinent questions arise: From which companies are the Russians? Are they from Tyamzhpromexport, TPE, the original developers of Ajaokuta Steel Company?
“Are they from the Consortium? Are they in Ajaokuta to audit the entire Steel plant? Are they in Ajaokuta to Audit only the Thermal Power Plant as it is being speculated?
“The budget year is coming to an end. Have they been brought just to ensure that the budget for technical audit is fully utilized and not for what Ajaokuta stands to gain?
“As patriotic youth leaders representing the overall interests of the ethnic nationalities that constitute the entire Nigeria’s population, we have resolved that:
“We shall engage all the relevant authorities to present our demands on the matters above and ensure that Ajaokuta Steel Company is revived within the next 12 months of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“We will ensure that those found culpable in these sharp practices that have wrecked the company to this point are punished by law.
“We will do our findings and expose those who are frustrating the take-off of the company.
“We will not hesitate to stage a national protest with the National Association of Nigerian Students and other Civil Society Organisations calling on President Tinubu to deal with corrupt politicians, civil servants and investors working hard over the years to pin down the company.”
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