Workers accuse NTDC’s DG of plotting to sell agency’s property

THE Director-General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Sally Mbanefo, and some of her top management officials were yesterday accused of allegedly initiating a “secret process” to sell off some of the agency’s property.

A worker of the corporation, who revealed this to The Nation in Abuja on condition of anonymity, listed the items that have been “secretly put up for sale” as including no fewer than five new buses and the corporation’s FM Radio transmitter.

The source said workers became suspicious when prominent transporters started besieging the agency’s headquarters in the last few days to find out the category of buses to be sold and their prices.

He said it was wrong for the corporation’s top echelon to be making moves to sell the items barely a month to the handover date by the President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

The source noted that Jonathan had directed all heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to write and submit their handover notes ahead of the May 29 date for the handover of power to the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) had decried allegations of last-minute looting of the nation’s resources, hurried recruitment into the public service and rushed privatisation of key financial institutions by some officials of the Jonathan’s administration, warning that such actions would have serious repercussions.

APC’s National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, in a statement, said the party had been inundated with calls and messages by concerned Nigerians, alerting it to the unscrupulous actions of some officials of the outgoing administration.

But, the source said: “What we are seeing here is beyond us. Transporters have been coming here to make enquiries of late concerning the buses despite the fact that there is no circular about proposed sale of the items by management. Why are they trying to secretly sell off some of the corporation’s property without due process?

“Apart from the fact that it is against public service rules to do that, it is also unethical to carry out such a transaction at this time that the present government is about to hand over power.

“Besides, the five transport buses and FM transmitter they want to sell are among the valuable assets of the agency.

“We are really worried about the development because those buses have been very useful for both the corporation’s activities, workers, official and personal engagements.

“The question is, how did transporters who have been making enquiries manage to know that the corporation is about to sell the items without any official statement to that effect? Or is it because of the fear of losing their positions under the new government that they are now trying to cripple the corporation?”

The corporation’s director-general could not be reached for comments as calls placed to her phone said “not reachable at the moment”.

When contacted, the Head, Public Relations Unit of NTDC, Mrs. Grace Ukah, denied the allegation.

Mrs. Ukah, who spoke on phone said: “I am not aware of that. I don’t think such a thing is going on here. If there is, they would have put up a notice and all staff will know. There is nothing of such.”

On his part, the Chairman of the Board of NTDC, Alhaji Adamu Attah, said he was also not aware of any such development.

Attah, in a text message in response to enquiries by our correspondent, said: ”I am not aware and no approvals were sought. The BOD (Board of Directors) have not met since Q3 (Quarter 3) 2014. The DG (Director General) has insisted that there is no funding for board meetings.”

The Minister of Culture and Tourism, Dr. Edem Duke, also denied knowledge of the alleged plot to sell the buses and radio equipment.

The minister said he would order an investigation to determine the veracity or otherwise of the claim.

Edem said: “I am not aware and I did not approve anything. I don’t know anything about it at all.

“I don’t know anything about it absolutely. Now that the media is sending an enquiry, I will ask the permanent secretary to investigate.”