N39bn loan to Discos contradicts privatization policy – TUC

The National Executive Council of Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has condemned the provision of N39 billion to privatized electricity distribution companies, saying the move by the Federal Government is against its privatization policy.   The union, in a communiqué at the end of its meeting in Lagos, considered the pronouncement by the Minister […]

The National Executive Council of Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has condemned the provision of N39 billion to privatized electricity distribution companies, saying the move by the Federal Government is against its privatization policy.  

The union, in a communiqué at the end of its meeting in Lagos, considered the pronouncement by the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, in Kano that government would give loans to the Distribution Companies (DISCOs) to meet electricity meter supply as a contradiction of privatization policy.  

The minister was quoted to have said the fund was meant to help the distribution companies bridge over 10 million metering gap in ensuring uninterrupted power generation and distribution.   

But the union demanded that government should not use public funds to fund private businesses or alternatively, reverse the privatization of the power sector as a failed policy.  

It also frowned at the Public Private Partnership being implemented in the health sector which it noted, has deviated from the original blue print of the 2004 working document, indicating  that the critical health  sector is now being commercialised.   

TUC warned that the consequence was that common Nigerians would be deprived of health care services.  

The union also expressed concern over the lip service on the  patronage of Made-in-Nigeria goods, condemning  the use of foreign materials by government agencies such as the military and paramilitary.