Don explains exemption of labour in privatisation talks

Following the Senate’s declaration last week that the power sector privatisation was a total failure, facts about why the Federal Government keeps labour unions in the dark about privatisation talks have emerged.

This was disclosed at a symposium in Lagos on the ‘Socio-Economic and Political Implications of Privatisation of Public Assets and the Way Forward in Lagos State,’ organised by the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE) and the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) with support from the DGB Bildungs Werk and Public Services International (PSI).

Speaking at the symposium, Prof. Hosea Mande described privatisation as an anti-poor idea introduced by Bretton Woods institutions, noting that lack of transparency in the talks was the reason labour unions were never carried along in the discussions.

He recalled how, in the 1980s, as many as 111 public enterprises were transferred to private individuals as part of the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP).

According to him, the privatisation of roads, water, electricity and other public utilities leads to high prices, which negatively impacts the poor.

He noted that the 1999 Constitution does not support privatisation; hence, the idea should be condemned.

Asserting that essential sectors such as health, education, electricity and water should not be privatised, Mande listed the disadvantages of privatisation including natural monopoly that leads to high prices and cutting corners that leave the society with substandard projects.

Stakeholders, including electricity workers and civil society groups, at the event, condemned privatisation and demanded, instead, public-public participation, in which citizens are involved in public decision-making processes.

The National Secretary of AUPCTRE, Sikiru Waheed, said: “We condemn privatisation and back public-public participation.”

During a panel discussion, the Executive Director of Citizens Free Service Forum (CFSF), Sanni Baba, said privatisation in Nigeria is deadly because deadly persons operate it.

In the fight against privatisation, collaboration is key, according to the Executive Director of Renevlyn Development Initiative (RDI), Philip Jakpor. He urged all hands to be on deck in the struggle.