BREAKING NEWS, Business
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BENJAMIN Ezra Dikki, outgoing director-general of the Bureau of Public Enterprises, BPE, has appealed to the federal government to pass into law the reform bills initiated by the BPE to boost the Nigerian economy especially in the face of dwindling revenue from oil.
At the formal hand over to Vincent Akpotaire, the most senior officer at the Bureau on Tuesday, February 16, in line with the government’s directive, Dikki said that the passage of the bills especially the Railways, Transport and Road bills would boost the Nigerian economy and bring about the expected change for Nigerians in line with the change mantra of the present administration.
He also called for the concession of the Nigerian Airports and the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, to open up the Nigerian economy for private sector participation. Dikki called for urgent privatisation of the refineries, saying that the option of turn-around-maintenance, TAM, had been a distraction over the years; and government could not afford to waste resources at the current critical time of the nation’s economy.
Dikki called on the management and staff of the BPE to put aside their differences and unite for the good of the organization and thanked them for their support and prayers which enabled the Bureau to register noticeable achievements during his tenure.
“My wish is that you all strive to be united, no matter the differences of opinion, so that BPE can be stable and maintain its rightful place as a credible organization. We should not give our detractors the ammunition to deal with us,” he said.
While noting that it is not possible to please everyone in the cause of discharging his duties as the DG, he appealed for forgiveness from those “I may have offended as it was not intentional. I also bear no grudge against anybody”.
Responding, Akpotaire, the acting DG of the Bureau, promised to build on the legacies and initiatives Dikki.
He extolled the former DG’s sterling qualities and drive for the reforms and privatisation programme of the federal government which he executed with zeal, especially the power transaction which was adjudged the world’s best; and the Guided Liquidation of NITEL/MTEL.
Akpotaire appealed to his colleagues to ensure a seamless transition to continue the reforms and privatization programme with the desired team spirit, noting that the management has an obligation to bequeath to the nation and the younger generation of staff, a virile and world class institution which the BPE represents.
In an atmosphere of conviviality, management staff, one after the other, extolled the qualities and leadership virtues of the out-going DG and wished him well in his future endeavours.
— Feb 16, 2016 @ 18:30 GMT
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