Prioritize local manufacturers in mass metering -Sen. Victor Umeh

The Senator who represents Anambra Central and a prominent member of the opposition LP, Senator Umeh Victor Chukwunonyelu has called for the encouragement of local manufacturers by way of patronage in order to stimulate our economy and create job for our teeming unemployed youths.

This is sequel to his motion on the floor of the Senate titled” Urgent Need to Protect Local Meter Manufacturing in the ongoing National Mass Metering Programme of the Federal Government “, where he drew the attention of his colleagues to the need to protect the local manufacturers of goods and services instead of giving preference to importers of goods and services.

Specifically he advocated for the total inclusion of Association of Meter Manufacturers of Nigeria(AMMON) in the ongoing World Bank funded Natonal Mass Metering Programme Phase 2 loan to the tune of $155,000.00.

According to him the stringent Bidding Creteria put in place can not be met by local manufacturers hence they are automatically excluded from the programme and only the foreign companies can meet the condition there by negating the deliberate policy put in place to encourage local manufacturers.

He therefore urge the Federal Government as a matter of urgency to suspend and review the whole process in order to prioritize local manufacturers in order to enhance capacity building, employment generation and growth.

Also he made a case for all stakeholders involved to engage the African Export -Import Bank (AFREXIM) as well as African Development Bank and source for loan if World Bank conditions are too stringent to be met.

The Senate there after adopted the motion in total.