An Overview of Privatisation in Nigeria and Options For Its Efficient Implementation
An Overview of Privatisation in Nigeria and Options For Its Efficient Implementation
An Overview of Privatisation in Nigeria and Options For Its Efficient Implementation
2 17-30
H. A. Salaka”
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INTRODUCTION
Privatisation, which now occupies the center stage in global economic
liberalisation is regarded as an avenue for raising productivity and enhancing overall
economic growth. This is achieved through increased involvement of the private
sector in productive economic activities through the sale of public enterprises to the
private sector, with a view to improving economic efficiency. With privatisation, the
role of government in direct productive activities diminishes as the private sector
takes over such responsibilities. Under such a setting, government is expected to
provide essential infrastructure and an enabling environment for private enterprise
to thrive. Privatisation is predicated on the assumption of state inefficiency and
“absolute” efficiency of the market.
Over the years, many countries, especially developing ones, have witnessed
increasing costs and poor performance of state-owned enterprises (SOEs), resulting
in heavy financial losses. Since the 1970s, in particular, SOEs have become an
unsustainable burden in some countries, absorbing large share of budgets of
governments in form of subsidies and capital infusion. For instance, SOEs are
adjudged to have contributed substantiallyto public sector deficits and have financed
less than one fifth of their investments through internally generated resources
* Mr H A. Salako I S an Assistant Director of Research and Head, Statistical Surveys Ofice. The author acknowledges
the editorial review by Dr. G.E. U!pong, Deputy Director of Research. The views expressed are the author k.
18 CBN ECONOMIC & FINANCIAL KEVlEW, VOL. 37 No.2
(Nair and Filippines, 1988). As some governments ran into severe fiscal problems
such that loans became increasingly difficult to raise at home and abroad, they were
forced to consider some radical methods for reviving the SOEs. Such reforms
embarked upon by developing countries included privatization. Kikeri et a1 (1994)
noted that the high costs and poor performance of SOEs and the modest and fleeting
results of reform efforts have turned many government towards privalization. Other
reasons include the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union,
and some successes of privatisation undertaken earlier in countries such as the
United Kingdom. Fiscal crises have also led some governments to privatize as a
way of raising revenues and stemming losses, especially in the face of increasing
public debt. Also, many governments are believed to have opted for privatisation
because of their inability to finance investment in their SOEs than expectations of
efficiency gains. However, the objectives of governments for embarking on
privatisation vary from country to country. They include the expansion of the role
of the private sector to improve mobilisation of savings for new investments,
modernising the economy through increased private investment, new technology
and efficient management to stimulate growth. Others are to facilitate the
development of the competitive environment, prwide greater employment
opportunities over time and reduce the cost of goods and services to consumers.
The need to improve government’s cash flow, enhance the efficiency of the SOEs,
promote ‘popular capitalism’ and curb the power of labour unions in the public
sector, redistribute incomes and rents within society and satisfy foreign donors who
would like to see the government’s role in the economy reduced are generally fulgered
as rationale for privatisation. Privatisation which connotes a reversal of state
ownership of enterprises has many different forms. For example, government might
sell some shares in SOEs through public offerings to passive investors without
losing control over the enterprise. Another variant of privatisation is leases and
management contracts which entail no transfer of ownership. Partial privatisation
mixes private and state ownership. Management contracts and leases combine private
management with state ownership and control. Other privatisation arrangements
mix private ownership with state regulation. However, -the motivation that drives
government to privatise and the political will to see it through would determine, to
a large extent, the success or failure of the programme.
in Nigeria, there had been a cumulative dismal performance of SOEs which
resulted in a “crisis of confidence”. This was due to various problems which can be
attributed to internal and external factors. The internal frxtors relate to inadequate
and inappropriate investment decisions, adverse business Ienvironment characterized
by weak capital base and control mzchanism, poor system of accountability and the
absence of any remarkable reward system. The external factors relate to unfavourable
export/import prices, restricted access to external markets and funds; high rates of
interest on foreign loans, etc.
Salako 19
Given the prevailing socio-economic and political conditions of the Nigerian
economy, the justification for institutional reform of the SOEs derives from three
main concerns which are macroeconomic in nature. The first, centers on the need
for the restoration of fiscal balance in the highly ihdebted Nigerian economy in the
light of excessive budget deficits, (which SOEs have been a major cause, through
excessive loans) and their inflationary impact. The second relates to the need to
improve efficiency in the public sector, especially the SOEs’ sub-sector. The third
factor, which is international in dimension, centers on the need to reduce the size of
government involvement in economic activities in order to free some resources which
could be deployed to alleviate international debt burden. The reform of SOEs in
Nigeria has, thus, focused on such critical aspects as financial and physical
restructuring via divestiture with a market-oriented approach under the Structural
Adjustment Programme (SAP) adopted in 1986.
The objective of this paper is to review the major issues influencing the choice
of privatisation strategies and options for their implementation in Nigeria, as well
as, benefits derivable from the various options. For ease of presentation, the rest of
the paper is divided into four parts. Part 11 reviews the relevant literature on the
subject including policy framework while the status of privatisatiod
commercialisation policy in Nigeria is treated in Part 111. Part IV examines
privatisation strategies and the Nigerian experience including prerequisites for
successful privatization initiatives. Part V concludes the paper with some policy
recommendations.
PART I1
away from foreign interests and lead the country towards self-sufficiency in the
production of essential goods and services. Policy makers also believed that would
increase employment.
In terms of size, available evidence shows that by the early 1980s, SOEs
accounted, on average, for 17.0 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) in sub-
Saharan Africa in a thirteen-country sample (Nellis, 1986), 12.0 per cent for Latin
America and a modest 3 .O per cent for Asia (excluding China, India and Myanmar),
compared with 10.0 per cent of GDP in mixed economies world-wide (Short, 1984).
SOEs in Nigeria are estimated to account for 16.3 per cent of GDP'. SOEs also
accounted for as high as 90.0 per cent of all productive activities in Eastern Europe
and Central Asia. It has, however, been observed in many countries, especially
developing ones, that SOEs have been economically inefficient and have incurred
heavy financial losses over the years. For example, World Bank estimates show
SOE losses between 1989 and 1991 reaching 9.0 per cent of GDP in Yugoslavia,
and more than 5.0 per cent on average, in a sample of sub-Saharan African countries.
Similarly, about 30.0 per cent of all SOEs in China incurred losses, and the
consolidated government and enterprise deficit was in the range of 8.0 per cent of
GDP in 1991 (Mcltinon, 1994; Yusuf and Hua, 1992). Notably, SOEs have
contributed substantially to public sector deficits and typically financed less than
one-fifth of their investments through internally generated resources (Nair and
Filippines, 1988). According to World Bank (1993) estimates, government transfers
and subsidies to SOEs amounted to 3.0 per cent of GNP in Turkey and 9.0 per cent
in Poland in 1990. Also the financial performance of nine key SOEs
(telecommunications, postal services, airlines, railways, transport, power, cement,
iron and steel, and textiles) in five West African countries (Benin, Ghana, Guinea,
Nigeria, and Senegal) has been persistently poor, with annual government transfers
and overdrafts to these sectors ranging from 8 to 14 per cent of GDP. As governments
ran into severe fiscal problems in the 1980s and loans became increasingly difficult
to raise at home and abroad, they were forced to consider relatively radical methods
for reviving the SOEs. The factors which influenced the choice of method of
privatisation have included the objectives of government, current structure, size
and financial performance and condition of the SOEs. Others have been the sector
of operation of the SOEs, the relative degree of economic advancement within the
country as well as the political arrangement.
PRIVATIZATION/COMMERCTALISATIONPOLICY IN NIGERIA
PART IV
The trade sale suits disposal of well-established SOEs which are sufficiently
small and specialised not to merit IPO. It may be the only option in countries with
vestigial capital markets. However, it is difficult to justify the sale price of the SOE
as objective, as it could be challenged with the benefit of hindsight. The SOE which
is performing poorly or technically insolvent may require write-offs before sale.
This may be the only option for SOEs that have been making losses over the
years. It is the simplest and fastest method of sale, and may make an unattractive
SOE business more attractive for sale. The state would have to retain all residual
liabilities and may requiie big write-offs of remaining unsold assets. Employees
may also have to be laid off by government.
In addition to, or in lieu of the sale by own stockholding in the SOE, the
government’s share or all of its newly-issued stock of the SOE can be sold to private
sector purchasers. This option may require conversion of the state enterprise into a
public company where the management discipline of the private sector is introduced.
This arrangement produces some revenues for the state when compared to outright
privatisation.
Some or all of the stock in a SOE may be sold to the management and/or
employees of the SOE. Such an arrangement may be one of necessity where no other
interested purchasers can be found or it may be a matter of government labour policy
to encourage employee ownership and participation in the enterprises being privatised.
This option may allow privatisation to take place when all other methods are
24 CBN ECONOMIC &FINANCIAL REVIEW, VOL. 37 No.2
Assets are leased for a predetermined period to an outside group that assumes
full commercial responsibility for operating them, while the state retains ownership
and responsibility subject to agreed contract. The management provides skills and
technology for an agreed fee. The benefits of this option include the introduction of
private sector management as well as allowing the state to retain significant control.
However, liabilities and ultimate responsibility remain with the government. The
option may work when other methods are politically unacceptable, but poor
performance could not be ruled out.
and with free entry and exit, only the efficient firms will survive. The markets that
surround SOEs on the output and input sides must be liberalised at the same time.
That means deregulating banks so that the SOEs would have opportunity to compete
for capital at the market. It also means freeing up labour so that SOEs compete for
appropriate labour without sacrificing quality for political expediency. However,
reform fatigue owing to extensive debate, with little action, could adversely affect
the privatisation programme. Governments should strive to maximise proceeds from
privatisation by taking decisive actions on loss making SOEs, especially in the
context of the globalising world economy. The lack of political will on the part of
government and deference to special interest groups may delay the benefit of
privatisation to the detriment of public interest. In addition, privatisation may lose
its appeal if incentives and discounts are required to achieve successful privatisation
of SOEs, thus reducing the revenue derivable from the exercise. This situation could
arise when SOEs are bunched for privatisation resulting in a glut of investment
opportunities.
PART V
SUMMARY AND POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS
(a) Summary
The paper reviewed the relevant literature and policy framework for effective
privatisation. The objectives of governments for embarking on privatisation were
noted to include the expansion of the role of the private sector in order to improve
savings mobilisation for new investments and facilitate the development of the
competitive environment. Others include redefining the role of Government in order
to allow it concentrate on the essential task of governing; reduction of the fiscal
burden of loss making SOEs and spreading and democratising share ownership for
enhanced productivity and accountability. The justification for institutional reform
of the SOEs in Nigeria was examined. This was based largely on the cumulative
dismal performance of these enterprises. A major motive of the Nigerian Federal
government in privatising SOEs appears to be the desire to improve government’s
cash flow as well as satisfy foreign donors who would favour a reduction in
government’s role in the economy. The major issues which influence the mode of
privatisation and benefits derivable from the various options were also discussed.
Moreover, conditions that would facilitate successful privatisation were highlighted.
Among others, it was opined that Government should focus more on the critical
motives and benefits of privatisation which include redistributing incomes and
enhancing the efficiency of the SOEs through effective handling of the privatisation
initiative. For example, government should exhibit deep commitment to market
liberalisation upon which successful privatisation depends. It should also resolve
Salako 27
the common conflict between quick and extensive privatisation and the desire to
maxirnise proceeds from privatisation.
Furthermore, the necessity for hard budgets which would ensure that state
subsidies and policy loans are eliminated, are noted. Similarly, the need for SOE
monopoly prices to be regulated with a clear pricing formula that would keep pressure
on management to improve efficiency were also discussed.
In a similar manner, the objectives, operational conceptualization and scope of
the privatisatiod commercialization programme should be reexamined in order to
correct some drawbacks due to omissions in the process of policy implementation.
(b) Recommendations
TABLE 1
TABLE 2
REFERENCES
World Bank (1993). “The Bank’s Role in the Electric Power Sector: Policies for
Effective Institutional, Regulatory and Financial Reform”. A World Bank Policy
Paper Washington, D. C.