Some stakeholders have advised the Federal Government to be more transparent in the bidding process towards the sale of? PHCN power plants.
In separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigerian (NAN) in Lagos on Wednesday, they said that the process should be more credibile and transparent.
Mr Folorunso Oginni, the Chairman, Lagos Chapter of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, (PENGASSAN)? advised? the government to publish names of all the bidders before announcing the final winners.
According to him, some people that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has barred from taking loans were announced as the highest bidders of some the companies.
Oginni said that the country had more credible persons who could have emerged as the highest bidders.
He urged government to investigate the process and persons announced as the winners of the bids.
“We are not surprised at the outcome because this has been our great concern about transparency in the PHCN bids.
“We hope that government will leave up to the expectation of Nigerians by ensuring that the ongoing power sector privatisation is done transparently,’’ he said.
Mr Tokunbo Korodo, the Chairman, Western Zone of NUPENG, also said that government should observe due process in the privatisation exercise.
He said that the last bid process should have been made more open beyond what was shown on the television.
Korodo said that the business empires of those who won the bids should be investigated.
“We need better people that have stood the test of time in terms of credibility, not this kind of people who have cases to answer,’’ he said.
The NUPENG chairman advised the government to look for more credible Nigerians to manage the local content aspect, rather than recycling same people.
?“We need experienced Nigerians who are knowledgeable in the power sector to take over the affairs of PHCN.
“The power sector should be adequately managed and concession to the people of better integrity.
“We hope that subsequent sale of plants will be effectively scrutinised,’’ he said.
?NAN recalls that the Nigeria is to earn 709 million dollars from the sale of five PHCN companies whose bids were announced on Tuesday.