House of Representatives, yesterday, resolved to conduct an investigation into the sale of Nigerian Telecommunications (NITEL), and Mobile Telecommunications (MTEL), by the Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE).
Consequently, the House mandated its Committees on Telecommunications and Privatisation to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the liquidation and takeover of the two companies by NATCOM and report back to it in eight weeks for further legislative actions.
The resolution followed a motion titled: “Call for Investigation of the Sales of Nigerian Telecommunications, NITEL, and Mobile Telecommunications, MTEL, by NATCOM”, brought by Hon. Henry Nwawuba.
In his lead debate, the lawmaker expressed the concern that since the sales and subsequent takeover of the companies by NATCOM, there have been lots of controversies, especially their alleged under-valuation.
Nwawuba said the two telecomm entities have the potential to generate huge income and provide employment to Nigerians, especially with the huge population of over 170 million.
He said there was every need to resolve the issues surrounding the sales and takeover of NITEL and MTEL by NATCOM.
Contributing to the debate, Minority Leader, Leo Ogor, who regretted that NITEL and MTEL are worst now than before their sales, said the privatisation policy was favoured foreigners to siphon the country’s resources.
Others, who also contributed were unanimous that the buyers of NITEL and MTEL were more interested in the assets of the two companies than reviving them.
They alleged that almost all the telecommunications service providers in the country today were making use of the facilities of NITEL and MTEL.
The lawmakers were unanimous too that the probe takes a critical look at the country’s privatisation laws to immediately reverse the sales, insisting that there were needs “to ensure that these assets are returned to the real owners who are the Nigerian people.”
The motion enjoyed an overwhelming support by the House, presided over by the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara.
It would be recalled that in December 2014, NITEL and MTEL were sold to NATCOM for $242.3m by BPE. However, the probe by the House will cover the period from year 2003.
