Afolabi Oyekunle.
Director General of the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA) Mr. Adewale Oyerinde has justified Federal government’s hiring of private contractors for surveillance of the petroleum pipeline network nationwide.
The decision of the government to hire private contractors including the Commander of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEN) Mr. Government Ekpemupolo in which the cost runs into billions of naira has been condemned in some quarters.
However speaking at the media parley of the Labour Writers Association of Nigeria, (LAWAN) in Lagos, the Director General of NECA, Mr. Oyerinde said although Security Agencies are doing their best, but to put an end to the vandalization which cost government substantial money in billion of dollars, the hiring of the private contractors is justified and other community stakeholders.
DG NECA Mr. Oyerinde speaking at the media parley.
He decried the high level of crude oil theft as well as pipelines vandalism.
The NECA Director General who spoke on wide range of topics including the economy and the plan removal of subsidy on petroleum called on the Federal Government to remove the subsidy once and for all.
According to him, “let us face the consequence of the subsidy removal
once and for all instead of a few people feeding with subsidy money”.
Mr Oyerinde said the money on subsidy could be used to build new refineries, noting that most of the pipelines are aged necessitating their shutdown, adding that turn around maintenance of the refineries may not be the best option.
Mr. Oyerinde with his management team at the event.
On the economy, the Director General of NECA said it is in a bad state, as the effect of multiple taxes, inflation,unemployment and increase in government debts affect all sectors with the manufacturing sector greatly feeling the impact.
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