The Auto/Precision Sectors of the Steel and Engineering Workers’ Union of Nigeria (SEWUN) has called on the Federal Government to scrap the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE).

The union argued that the body has outlived its usefulness, having allegedly failed to meet the aim and objective of the government’s vision of the privatisation programme.

The union noted that all the automobile companies owned by the Federal Government that were privatised by BPE have all closed shop.

In a resolution reached at the end of its yearly industrial relations seminar, in Ogun State, the union alleged that the BPE had corruptly sold the companies to people who possessed no knowledge, technical skills, or the funds to manufacture or assemble vehicles.

The President-General, Sunday Oyabugbe, and General Secretary, P. E. Okonma, alleged that there is no single automobile company privatised that is functioning well presently.

The union urged the Federal Government to intensify its job creation efforts, infrastructural development, healthcare, and education to tackle widening poverty among the people.

The workers urged the government to cut the costs of running the government as part of the measures aimed at curbing inflation.

With the level of insecurity in the country, the unionist advocated the establishment of state police, saying creating it would reduce insecurity by over 70 per cent “irrespective of the abuse claims against the state governors.”

The conference in session equally urged the Federal Government to strengthen the legal and policy framework to safeguard labour rights, freedom of association, and social safety nets.

On the removal of fuel subsidy, the workers said what is needed is a restructured and people-centred intervention that protects the masses, while ensuring Nigeria’s resources are used productively.

“As a union we call on the government to act now, because no reform can be called successful if it leaves the people in deeper poverty, hunger and misery,” the workers said.

On members’ welfare, the workers urged the national secretariat of the union to ensure an impactful outcome of the ongoing National Joint Industrial Council (NJIC) Collective Bargaining Negotiation in its industrial group.

The seminar, tagged, ‘Building and Depending Trust towards a Productive Partnership between Union and Management’, was organised by the Centre for Advanced Management Studies (Manpower Development and Training Centre), University of Ibadan.