The Chairman of the Senate Ad Hoc Committee investigating activities in Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited and National Iron Ore Mining Company Itakpe, all in Kogi State, led by Sen. Adeniyi Ayodele Adegbonmire (SAN), has assured the workers and management of the company that his Committee is not out to witch-hunt anyone but on a mission to find a solution to the problems of the company.
According to Senator Adegbonmire, the committee was rather in the steel plant with a firm commitment to unravel why Ajaokuta Steel Plant is not working, decades after it was established.
The chairman of the Senate Ad Hoc Committee investigating the alleged incidences of corruption and inefficiency, who stated this during their visit to the company on Wednesday, said comments being canvassed on various social media spaces and several media outlets are not part of his Committee’s mandate and that certainly labour or workers’ related matters as being canvassed have no place in their assignment.
Speaking further, he said, “The visit is aimed at understanding the situation of the steel plant and getting first-hand information directly from the steel plant. Our mission, therefore, is to ensure that the jinx is broken and the steel plant works.”
In his welcome address, Engr. Kanwai Atungs Joseph, Acting Chief Executive of the company, appreciated the interest shown in the company and acknowledged the importance of their investigation, aimed at finding solutions to the problems of the company.
He said, “We recognize the trust placed in us to manage a national asset like this steel plant and are committed to transparency and accountability. Our company has always strived to operate with integrity, delivering quality products when in production and preserving this huge government investment at all times.
“We understand that allegations of corruption and inefficiency are serious concerns and assure you of our full cooperation throughout this investigation. During your visit, we will provide unfettered access to our facilities and information. Our team is prepared to address any questions or concerns you may have, ensuring a thorough and impartial investigation. Indeed, it is necessary to start by giving you an understanding of how the company was, how it is now, and why we are still here.”
Earlier, the union leaders of the companies had charged the Senate Ad Hoc Committee to be transparent, fair, and just in their task so that they can have the trust of all and sundry throughout the period of their assignment.
In the welcome address read on behalf of the workers by Comrade Salihu Idowu Adinoyi, Chairman Miners Union of Nigeria, Ajaokuta Branch, the workers also appreciated President Ahmed Bola Tinubu GCFR for his tireless and purposeful efforts toward the revitalization of the company in line with his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, saying this is a step in the right direction towards the industrialization of the company.
He added,”Our appreciation also goes to the Honourable Minister Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu and the immediate past Sole Administrator Engr. Sumaila Abdul Aka’aba FNSE for their steadfastness and commitment to the progress made thus far regarding the revival of the company, especially the recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Russian Consortium led by the original builders of Ajaokuta Steel Plant, Tyazhpromexport (TPE), including Novostal M and Proforce Manufacturing Limited, for the rehabilitation and completion of Ajaokuta Steel Plant.”
They stressed that the committee, while carrying out this assignment, must avoid the idea of media trials and seeming persecution of an individual or group of individuals through sponsored negative press releases on Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited in any form, saying that this should be resisted and discouraged in its entirety.
They maintained that they will not sit back and allow anyone, no matter how highly placed, to either truncate the progress made so far by the Federal Government of Nigeria or rubbish the positive efforts that have been put in place through the combined efforts of the workers and stakeholders in the industry by some individuals who they said have used faceless and unpatriotic groups to defame or malign the company because of their selfish reasons.
“Furthermore, we all know that information, they say, is power and at the same time that ‘if you are not informed, you will be deformed.’ We, therefore, call on all genuine and sincere Nigerians seeking information about Ajaokuta Steel Plant to, as a matter of fact, ask from the right source to avoid causing confusion at any level of this investigation.
“In view of this, we urge the committee to ensure that you seek information that can be of help in carrying out this important assignment without compromise/prejudice from the right sources such as the Ministry of Steel Development, Management of both ASCL and NIOMCO, and the various union leaders across board and other relevant stakeholders as anything outside these may cause doom and unsuccessful assignments without getting the desired objectives.
“The Workers Union leaders, on behalf of the entire staff, wish to heartily welcome our distinguished Senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited for an oversight function, which we believe is in the interest and betterment of the company.
“Firstly, we want to sincerely appreciate His Excellency Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, for his tireless and purposeful efforts toward the revitalization of the company in line with his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“Our appreciation also goes to the Honourable Minister Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu and the immediate past Sole Administrator Engr. Sumaila Abdul Aka’aba FNSE for their steadfastness and commitment to the progress made thus far regarding the revival of the company.”
