NSE Advises FG On Ajaokuta Steel

There are indications that president Umar Yar’Adua is working out modalities to put into actions recommendations that the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) has offered him as the best possible way forward to resuscitating the ailing Ajaokuta steel complex.
The NSE through its President, Kashim Ali, had written Yar’Adua not to ascent to the planned sack of over 2,000 workers of the complex in view of the plausible option proposed by the interim management committee (IMC) who requested for the sum of N400 million pre-operational funds to enable them resume commercial production in the light section and bar rolling mill.
NSE advised the President to have faith in the committee’s plan to plough the amount to generate sufficient revenue to pay for the staff salaries and keep the plant operational until plans were concluded for its commercialisation or privatization.
Ali, in a letter, advised the President to consider the huge returns the country stood to achieve from the investment of the amount adding that any other contrary step would be to the disadvantage of the country.
“We urge your Excellency to seriously consider the current level of unemployment in the country and the added negative impact the sack of this staff will have in the labour market” he said.
The NSE emphasised on the consequential activities that the injected funds would enhance saying “as a matter of fact, a key index for measuring development is the rate of steel consumption.
“We also encourage Mr. President to hold further consultations with stakeholders on the way forward for the steel sector in view of its importance to the development of the nation” the engineers added.
President Yar’Adua, in a reply with reference number SH/PSP/18/89 addressed to the President of NSE which was signed by David Ederbie, principal secretary to the president, noted that the president “has taken due cognizance of the content of the letter”. There are indications that succour will now come the way of the 2,000 staff of the company who had already began to grieve over the anxiety of jobs losses.