By Valentine Amanze
Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has inaugurated a 10-man Technical Committee on Privatisation and Commercialisation (TCPC), which will take inventory of all non-operational enterprises owned by the state government and provide guidelines for their privatisation and commercialisation.
The committee to be chaired by the Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon Philip Shaibu, was inaugurated on Tuesday, by the governor at the Government House in Benin City, Edo State.
Obaseki said that the TCPC would “carry-out due diligence on the Uromi Cassava Factory; review and end the previous process for the sale of the factory and carry-out actions that will ensure the selection of capable investors for the uptake of the factory.”
Obaseki explained: “The objectives of the committee will include visits to sites of the state-owned enterprises to identify enterprises that require urgent restructuring through commercialisation, privatisation or partnership. It will carry out due diligence on the status of the identified enterprises.
“The TCPC will make recommendations for the review of the TCPC law and appoint the Public Private Partnership Office as a standing and Adhoc Committee to facilitate the performance of its functions.”
The Chairman, TCPC, Rt. Hon. Shaibu, represented by the Commissioner for Wealth Creation, Cooperatives and Employment, Hon. Emmanuel Usoh, expressed appreciation to the governor for the opportunity to support the economic agenda of state government.
He said, “The committee will put its best in discharging its duties in line with the provision of the law and economic agenda of Obaseki’s administration. We will be transparent in our engagements.”
Other members of the committee include, Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Kabiru Adjoto; Commissioner for Finance, Osagie Inegbedion; Commissioner for Infrastructure, Osahon Amiolemen; Commissioner for Wealth Creation, Cooperatives and Employment, Emmanuel Usoh; and the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Prof Yinka Omorogbe.
Others include a Director in the Ministry of Wealth Creation, Cooperatives and Employment, who will act as Secretary of the committee; Mr. George Etomi, of Etomi and Partners; Mr. Olu Akpata, Templars Law firm and Mr. Cephas Afebuameh, Supply Chain and Operations Director, Suntory Beverage and Food Nigeria.
