Some Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) on Thursday condemned the call by some individuals on the Federal Government to sell some of the nation’s assets as panacea for economic recovery.
The CSOs made their opinions known in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
Their opposition, however, may do little to change the position of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government, which on Thursday at the National Economic Council meeting, listed “Assets Sales” as one of the measures to tackle the country’s recession.
It would be recalled that business mogul, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, had last week, advised the Federal Government to sell some of its assets as measure for surmounting prevailing economic recession in the country.
Dangote had added that the step would shore up the Naira against the dollar and other major currencies.
And, at the resuming for the second legislative year of the 8th Assembly on Tuesday, President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, joined Dangote in the call.
Saraki specifically urged the government to Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Company and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and utilise the funds to halt the recession.
Mr Emmanuel Onwubiko, National Coordinator of the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), told NAN that the government should not be “deceived’’ into selling the nation’s assets.
“We are strongly against any call to sell our priced assets such as the NLNG or the refinery to any business politician, local or international businessmen in the name of addressing the recession.
“One of the basic fundamental qualities and attributes of a sovereign nation is the ownership of tangible and intangible assets to run the country.
“The biggest democracy in the world, meaning United States, still has assets. It is the assets of a country that attract investors to the country.
“So, why should men of this great country call for our pride to be sold to them? For the sake addressing the economy challenge? How are we sure that this can help the present situation?
“It is a conspiracy between the so-called wise businessmen and this should be discouraged,’’ he said.
Onwubiko recalled that some assets had been sold in the past but that the impact was lost on the economy.
“Assets like NITEL, NEPA, among others had been sold in the name of addressing the economy but where are we today.
“All the government of the day needs to do is to revamp the economy, make the country viable for both local and foreign investors and we’ll be on our way to prosperity.’’
Also speaking, Mr Okeke Anya, Senior Programme Officer with Civil Society Legislative and Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), said that selling the country’s assets would not solve the economic problem.
Anya cautioned that should the assets be sold, it may spell doom to the nation, thereby worsening the situation.
According to him, countries that are experiencing recession as Nigeria have assets and think of better ways of dealing with the problems, not selling off assets.
“It is not a welcome idea that our legacy that we have built over the years be sold off for what we are not sure of.
“As a civil society member, economists tell us investment is better than consumption. Consuming your wealth does not make you rich; selling off our investments does not make sense.
“I think it is proper for the government to tell us what we have acquired in past investments. What we should do to increase our assets, returns and our investments to the country.
“We, the CSOs, are calling on the government to revamp the economy with the funds recovered from corrupt Nigerians,’’ he said. (NAN)
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