By Jamiu Ganiyu
After many years of underperformance and lack of meaningful contribution to the state economy, the house of representatives member for Orolu, Irepodun, Olorunda and Osogbo federal constituency, Hon. Bukola Oyewo, has resolved to make bold moves to review the privatization of Osogbo Steel Rolling Mills and the Nigeria Machine Tools.
Hon. Oyewo made this known today in a press release, a copy which was made available to osun.life, in Osogbo, the state capital.
The statement reads, “As part of my campaign promises of sponsoring bills and motions that will positively affect my constituents, we have identified the need to move for the review of the privatization of Osogbo Steel Rolling Mills and the Nigeria Machine Tools”
“From investigation, we are aware that the Osogbo Steel Rolling Mills, the Nigeria Machine tools, and other national assets were sold to private investors by the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo through the Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE), chaired by the former Vice-President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar”
“Regrettably, due to the privatization of these national assets, most especially the Osogbo Steel Rolling Mill, it has further remained moribund since it was privatized, as well as the Nigeria Machine Tools which is performing below its optimal capacity”
“However, without a functional steel company in Nigeria, the dream of manufacturing vehicles in the country and other machine equipment might be a mirage”
“We are further aware that the neglect of these two companies which provided jobs for over 20,000 people is having a serious negative effect on the people and the economy of our dear state. The sales of these companies will be moved for review, taking cognizance of the fact that many jobless youths will find something to do if the sales of these national assets are reviewed, as it is said that an idle hand is the devil’s workshop”
“I will work closely with the Committee on Privatization and Commercialization both in the House of Representatives and the Senate to investigate the process of the privatization of the companies, and further liaise with the Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE) with a view to working on modalities to revert the privatization of these two important companies”, he concluded.
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