According to a statement signed by the Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, the approval was one of the highlights of the council’s sixth meeting on Friday, December 16, 2022, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The statement is titled ‘Osinbajo-led Privatisation council approves release of N1.3bn for payment of SAHCO’s ex-workers’ outstanding since 2009.’
Akande noted that the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises, Mr. Alex Okoh, had presented a memo to the Council, seeking its approval for the payment of the sum due to ex-SAHCO workers
The DG also informed the Council of the notice of ‘peaceful protest’ received from ex-workers of SAHCO, who are also members of the National Union of Air Transport Employees and Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, on account of the non-payment of their outstanding severance entitlements after the disengagement of the workers from the company following its privatisation in 2009.
“After deliberation on the matter, the Council gave the approval for the outstanding severance entitlements of the ex-workers to be paid,” the statement read in part.
On the restructuring of the Kano, Benin, Kaduna, Ibadan, and Port Harcourt Distribution Companies, the Council was informed that the notifications of change of Directors for all the DisCos had been filed at the Corporate Affairs Commission, while the BPE had issued guidelines to the banks/lenders for the sale of their 60 per cent shares in the assets.
Further updates were received on the sale of five NIPP Power Plants, particularly the engagements with the Nigerian governors Forum on the NIPP transaction, and the resolution by the governors to constitute a committee to review the transaction and revert to the Bureau.
“The Council expressed satisfaction with the BPE’s handling of the engagements with the governors on the sale of the NIPP and the Federal Government’s 40 per cent interest in the Aba Ring-Fenced area,” Akande revealed.
In attendance at the meeting were council members including ministers of Power, Abubakar Aliyu; Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed; the Director-General of the BPE, Mr. Alex Okoh; representatives of Federal Ministry of Justice, heads of relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies and other senior government officials.
