Anambra Lawmakers Fault Alleged Plan Sale Of National Assets

By Enyim Enyim

AWKA—Lawmakers in Anambra State House of Assembly have condemned the alleged planned sale of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC and the Nigeria Ports Authority NPA among other national assets by the Federal Government.

 Addressing reporters on the issue at the House of Assembly premises after plenary, two legislators, the majority leader and the deputy majority leader, Mr Victor Okoye representing Anambra West constituency and Mr Pascal Agbodike representing Ihiala II constituency respectively, described as preposterous, the plan by the Muhammadu Buhari government to sell national assets that the country prides  itself on because of the recent economic recession.

 Okoye cautioned against any attempt by the Federal Government to sell NNPC and NPA among others on ground that previous government had sold some national assets including power without any positive result in the development of the country.

 “ There is no doubt that if they sell them, they will sell them to cabals that will in turn sell and eat the money bringing the country to square one.So, l am of the opinion that the federal government should look elsewhere to find a solution to the present economic crunch”

 However, he said the national assets could be sold to foreign experts would manage the firms and the proceeds shared 60% to states, 20% to local government and 20% to the federal government.

 Agbodike who spoke in the same vein said it would be bad if the federal government’s intention was to make the rich richer and the poor poorer. He said the sale of the country’s national assets was not the solution to the economic quagmire facing the nation now.