The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) has called on president Muhammadu Buhari to take a second look at the Nigeria Special Economic Zone Company LTD (NSEZCO) which was floated to usurp Nigeria Exports Promotion Zones Authority (NEPZA).
The association also called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences to as matter of urgently probe the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Okechukwu Enyinna Enelamah and his close allies over their interest on NSEZCO, a private company registered with CAC to usurp the functions of Nigeria Exports Promotion Zones Authority (NEPZA).
Speaking with newsmen in Abuja yesterday, the Administrative Secretary of the association in FCT, Comrade Isaac Ojemhenke also call for the investigation of Mr Femi Edun for his double role as an SA to the minister and a director in the new company.
The union leader described as fruadulant, for the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment to want to sale Calabar and Kano Free Trade zones when Federal Government has appropriated money to upgrade them to the world class standard.
He also accused the minister of misleading President Buhari and other members of the Federal Executive Council to believing that the said Company is a public establishment, hence inclusion of ‘Nigeria’ during registration processes with the Corporate Affairs Commission.
“President Muhammadu Buhari should take a second look at this NSEZCO project as everything about it is shrouded in secrecy and is capable of dragging the good name of Mr. President to the mire when it comes fully to the public knowledge, also Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment should be investigated with regards to his inglorious role in this NSEZCO saga.
“The dual role of Mr. Femi Edun as an SA to the Minister and a director in this NSEZCO should be investigated with a view to evoking appropriate sanctions in line with extant Public Service Rules in order to deter potential law breakers”.
Comrade Isaac further urged President Buhari to stop release of Funds to NSEZCO pending the outcome of the Presidential intervention in this matter.
According to him “we invited you here today to inform you of the desperate moves by the Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Okechukwu Enyinna Enelamah and his close allies in the Ministry, to usurp the functions and duties of Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) through a private company called Nigeria Special Economic Zones Company Ltd (NSEZCO).
“You will recall that the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) wrote a petition dated 7th of August 2018, to President Muhammadu Buhari. This was after the Association had written a letter dated 14th of June 2018, to the Honourable Minister seeking clarification in respect of the planned sale of Calabar and Kano Free Trade Zones without acknowledgement and response from the Minister”.
The Association’s petition to Mr. President was for him to be in the picture of what the Honourable Minister and his co-travelers are planning, which include to mislead Mr. President and other members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) to believing that NSEZCO is a Public Company, hence the inclusion of the word ‘Nigeria’ in the Company’s name during its registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).
After being queried by Mr. President as a result of the Association’s petition, the Honourable Minister wanted to hold a town hall meeting with NEPZA staff in order to give an impression of having taken the workers’ view into consideration on this NSEZCO project. At the town hall meeting, the Honourable Minister and his entourage were booed.
“That, however, forced the Honourable Minister to meet with the Leadership of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) led by its Secretary-General, Comrade Alade Bashir Lawal at the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment on 23rd October 2018. At the meeting in which the Honourable Minister was represented by the Permanent Secretary, it was revealed that this project which turns out to be a hoax is between the Honourable Minister and his SA, who took the position of a director in the NSEZCO, while the entire Ministry seems to have been cut-off in the project matter.
” it will interest you to know that NSEZCO was incorporated with the CAC on 12th of June 2018. Just two weeks after its incorporation, precisely on 27th of June 2018, the Honourable Minister deceitfully presented a memo to FEC seeking its approval for registration of the company that had been incorporated earlier; and as well as for NSEZCO to be the holding entity for all FGN investment and proprietary interest in existing and future Special Economic Zones (SEZs).
In addition, the Honourable Minister wrote a memo to Accountant General of the Federation, that a total sum of N14, 376,027,584.65 (Fourteen Billion, Three Hundred and Seventy Six Million, Twenty Seven Thousand, Five Hundred and Eighty Four Naira, Sixty Five Kobo) be transferred to the NSEZCO from the NEPZA 2017 appropriation meant for the upgrade of the existing two public Free Trade Zones to world class standard (Calabar and Kano Free Trade Zones) which was swept back to treasury at the end of 2017 fiscal year.”.