Nigeria, Oct 16 , 2016 – The Automobile Boatyards, Transport, Equipment and Allied Senior Staff Association(AUTOBATE) has called on the Federal Government to exercise caution in floating the N25 billion car purchase loan scheme to help Nigerians acquire new made-in-Nigeria cars.
In a statement, National President and General Secretary of AUTOBATE, Comrades Edeki Osumah and Sola Olorunfemi said the scheme will help to move the sector forward, and bring boom to the industry, and benefit the middle class.
“We, however, advise for a well mapped-out, clear and nationalistic guideline that would not short-changed the beneficiaries at the end of it all.
“It is instructive that caution be taken to ensure that the so-called investors who cut costs only on workers, detest unionization, promote outsourcing and mass casualization exploit the opportunity.
“AUTOBATE understands the fact that the Federal Government is trying to promote a developmental policy, especially as the recession bites harder, but we feel that this should not be done at the expense of the struggling middle class who really needs this kind of opportunity’’”, AUTOBATE said..
AUTOBATE called on Federal Government to institute public-owned automobile industries so as to widen and deepen the expected development.
“Industrial standards should also be maintained. This is the safest line to lead in this world of economic downturn so as to promote collective prosperity and robust developments’’, it said.
AUTOBATE warns that that the 25billion naira loan must not be left at the mercy of the greedy bankers who also take advantage of opportunities like this to divert funds to other investments thereby frustrating the supposed beneficiaries.
