A member of the People�s National Convention (PNC) and a Policy Analyst, Atik Mohammed wants government to stop �pampering� multinational companies who he accused of exploiting the country�s natural resources.
Making his submission on Oman FM�s political programme �National Agenda�, Atik Mohammed urged government to ensure that the nation accrue huge benefit from proceeds derived from the mining sector.
He bemoaned the norm whereby even though the mining industry accounts for 5% of the country's GDP and minerals make up 37% of total exports, the royalty payable by the mining sector to the government is only 5%.
According to him, instead of government reviewing its terms of agreement with the companies to ensure that the nation generates adequate revenues from the sector to enhance the progress of the nation, it has rather sought to �pamper them�, saying �let�s get little from them and let�s continue to kill our own citizens.�
He therefore appealed to government to give local miners an opportunity to take over the mining sector in order to reap more benefits for the nation.
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