Although the debate on the floor was on a bill to amend the BPE Act, Senator Uche Chukwumerije, seized the opportunity to reveal what senators were doing behind the scene to get the President to implement the report.
He said he had started, along with Senator Ahmed Lawan and other senators, to collect signatures to force the President to implement the content of the report.
The report recommended the revocation of the privatisation of key public enterprises for non-compliance with due process and the BPE Act.
The highpoint of the recommendations was the call for removal of the current BPE Director General, Ms. Bolanle Onagoruwa, from office for her involvement in the sale of Federal Government’s 5 per cent share of the Eleme Petrochemical Company.
It also urged the criminal investigation of former CEOs of the bureau for their role in the failed privatisation exercise.
Although the report was forwarded to the President for implementation since December 2011, no action had been taken on it.
Chukwumerije said, “As of two weeks ago, with Lawan and others I started collected signatures that if we could collect two thirds or so, we are going to get it here, a motion that gives marching orders to Mr. President to do something about this report or else.
“We are going to that stage in this country. We can’t continue like this with impunity in which they continue looting public funds and nobody is saying anything.
“When it comes to the stage of threatening impeachment, Uche Chukwumerije will do it and move the motion.
“We must pass a resolution calling the attention of Mr. President to the main body of the report.”
Lawan, who chaired the panel that carried out the investigation, noted that the amendment was necessary because the BPE was spending the proceeds of privatisation without recourse to the National Assembly.
He recommended punishment for those who breached the laws, beginning with the implementation of the report.
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