Economic Confidential, October 2008

BUSINESS

Groups Defend BPE Boss Over Petitions

As Bureau of Public Enterprises denies some spurious allegations on purported sales of some oil companies which labour unions threatened the government, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Nigeria United For Justice (NUFJ), has come to the defence of the Director-General of the Bureau, Mrs. Irene Chigbue.

Recently the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas workers (NUPENG) and the Petroleum and the Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) have expressed disgust at the planned sale of the Pipeline Products Marketing Company (PPMC) and the Nigerian Gas Company (NGC).

The allegation over the sale has been debunked by the government. According to a source, there was never a time when the Bureau recommended outright sales of the companies but that a report adopted by the government considered concession as an alternative. The concession-option had been a long-term work plan, when it was observed that some of the oil depots and pipelines had been under-utilization which resulted to transportation of oil through trucks on the highways. It was further revealed that until a bill before the National Assembly is debated and passed into law before any action for the sale may be tenable.

Defending BPE boss over some allegations and threats, the President of NUFJ, Dr. Iyorzua Iyankyaa in a statement said that rather than commend the BPE boss for the transparent manner she has executed the programme leading to its success so far, some faceless petitioners and selfish individuals out for personal interests were intent on distracting her through frivolous petitions and smear campaigns.

The group noted that petition-writing had become a tool of blackmail by mischief makers in the country and urged anti-graft agencies like the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to always subject petitions before them to thorough scrutiny to ascertain their veracity before taking decisions on them because most of the petitions were borne out of malice.

The organisation said it has discovered that that the petition against her by an ex-staff of the bureau to the EFCC was sponsored by a clique in the society to discredit her achievements as relevant agencies probing the allegations have found them baseless, lacking in substance and merit.

The statement added that “a country that glorifies petition-writing and a syndrome of pulling others down can not really advance" and urged the BPE DG not to be distracted by the antics of a few disgruntled elements but to remain steadfast and focused as all well-meaning Nigerians were behind her. Elsewhere a petition written by an ex staff would not have been worth anything for the simple fact that the staff is disgruntled and so can invest in mischievous, malicious and vexatious petition-writing.

"It is unfortunate that the anti-graft agencies gave it any attention at all, but it is gratifying that they have found it to be wanting in substance and will soon drop it".

The group urged Nigerians to dissipate their energies on issues that could advance the development of the country instead of embarking on retrogressive tendencies.