ASCSN kicks against sales of Calabar, Kano Free Trade Zones

The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) has kicked against what it terms “desperate move” to sell and transfer Calabar and Kano Free Trade Zones to Nigeria Special Economic Zones Company Ltd (NSEZCO), a private company.

The association also called on President Muhammadu Buhari, to take a second look at NSEZCO project as everything is shrouded in secrecy and is capable of dragging the good name of Mr. President to the mire, when it comes to public knowledge.

Speaking to journalists on their opposition to the sales, the ASCSN Secretary, FCT, Comrade Isaac Ojemhenke, condemned the desperate moves by the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Okechukwu 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.

Already, Comrade Ojemhenke, said the association had petitioned President Buhari, for him to be in the picture of what the minister are planning, which include misleading the President and other members of Federal Executive Council  (FEC) to believing that NSEZCO is a public company.

The Union explained that NSEZCO was incorporated with the Corporate Affairs Commission on 12 June, 2018, and just two weeks after, the minister presented a memo to FEC seeking its approval and for it to be holding entity for all Federal Government investment and proprietary interest in existing and future Specia Economic Zones.

Besides, the ASCSN secretary disclosed that the minister wrote to Accountant General of the Federation that N14.376 billion be transferred to NSEZCO from the NEPZA 2017 appropriation for the upgrade of Calabar and Kano public Free Trade Zones.

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The Union kicked against the transfer of the money, saying that since the funds were originally appropriated for specific purpose under the Appropriation Act, 2017, any directive for the transfer of funds from monies duly appropriated, must follow due process.

Comrade Ojemhenke also queried the situation, whereby a company that was incorporated in June 2018 by CAC as private owned, can take over the functions and duties of another establishment that was a product of an Act of Parliament.

He said: “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.

“President MUhammadu Buhari should stop any release of Funds to NSEZCO pending the outcome of the Presidential intervention in this matter.

“The Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment should be investigated with regards to his inglorious role in this NSEZCO saga.”