The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) as representative of organised labour in the country has vowed to resist the sale of national assets by the federal government in its bid to address the recession in the economy.
Africa’s richest man and entrepreneur, Alhaji Aliko Dangote had earlier this week urged the government to consider the sale of national assets like stakes in the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation among others to shore up the country’s foreign reserves.
Dangote had said the yield from the sale of those assets would attract more investors and ensure the liquidity needed to stimulate the country out of recession. The Central Bank of Nigeria governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, this week also acknowledged that it was an option to consider.
NLC has however vowed to resist any such moves, arguing that previous sale of national assets through privatisation programmes have not yielded any benefits to the country.
The labour group described those pushing for the measure as enemies of the country, who are only bent on acquiring the nation’s assets for their personal use.
NLC President Ayuba Wabba told The Nation experience has shown that privatisation has not worked and that most of the national assets Nigeria sold off have not done well.
Wabba argued: “First, most of our national assets they have sold under the banner of privatisation, non of them has succeeded. Many countries of the world has passed through this same period of recession and their approach to addressing the issue is not to sell their commonwealth, leaving them in the hands of a very few.
“It is worrisome that those canvassing for this are looking forward to buying these assets themselves. I don’t think it will be productive for us as a nation to dispose off these assets to meet short time need. It will certainly not be productive and not in the interest of the larger Nigerian public.”
Wabba added that, should the government proceed with the sale of national assets, organised labour will lock down the nation until the decision is reversed.
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