THE
Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) yesterday asked the Federal Government to
cut off the hands of those found to have stolen public funds. It urged government to name and shame those involved to serve as a deterrent to others. Addressing a protest rally for good
governance at the Unity Fountain in Abuja, NLC President, Comrade Ayuba
Wabba, said it was unfortunate a few individuals stole the nation’s
common wealth and
nothing had been done to bring them to book.
Wabba said government must prove to the
world it was serious about winning the fight against corruption and
recovering stolen money as well as the alleged $22 billion not remitted
to the Federation Account from sale of oil and gas.
He said when the hands of such people
are amputated, Nigerians would be able to identify them as those who
stole public funds and who were responsible for the country’s recession.
He said: “We must not allow a situation
where few, because of their interest, will hold the system to ransom. We
are demanding increase in electricity supply and they are saying add
more tariff, we are demanding increase in minimum wage and they say they
are going to be paying in percentage. We should not be tired.
“Why should somebody steal one billion
naira and walk the street free. We are demanding that they should be
named and shamed. We are also demanding that one of their hands be cut
off so that when we see them, we will know that they are people that
have stolen our money.
“So, let us not be tired. Not to pay
salaries and pensions is criminal. Not to increase our wages in this
condition is corruption and so, we must demand good governance and
support the fight against corruption.”
President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Bobboi Kaigama, said efforts must be made to end corruption in the country.
He said: “We must end corruption in this
country and support good governance. It is only in Nigerian that
corrupt people are being celebrated.
“We want to tell the world that we are
insisting that corruption must be fought to a standstill. Those people
who are aiding and abating corruption should be prepared for the wrath
of Nigerians. If you escort criminals to court, we will follow you there
and disgrace you.
“Today, we have to show our displeasure
because it is only in Nigeria. Workers and the downtrodden are
suffering. Their pay is not increased, while we have daily increase in
inflation and recession because of the stolen wealth that has not been
redistributed to Nigerians.
“We have so much corruption in the
states and local governments to the extent that bailout fund given to
them will be diverted. We are going to follow them with EFCC and ICPC to
make sure that those diverting our bailout fund meant for the payment
of salaries, pension and arrears of promotion must be dealt with.”
Security operatives yesterday prevented
the protesting workers from the Presidential Villa to deliver their
protest message to Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.
The letter demanded good governance and sustained fight against corruption.
The workers, led by Wabba and Bobboi
Kaigama, who were matching to the Presidential Villa from the Unity
Fountain, were stopped at the Federal Secretariat by armed security
operatives at 11.05 am.
They were, however, asked to send a
delegation of their leaders to take their message to the Villa, a
request which they initially turned down, insisting the Acting President
either send a representative to receive their message or they be
allowed to enter the Villa to deliver the message.
However, 20 representatives of the
workers were later selected to take their message to the Acting
President while the rest waited for their leaders.
They were entertained by the music of legendary Fela Anikulakpo Kuti, the late Bob Marley, among others.
Traffic on the busy Shehu Shagari Way
was diverted as the workers partially blocked the road waiting for a
response from the Villa.
The placard-carrying workers were, among
other things, demanding good governance, accountability and sustained
fight against corruption.
Some of the placards read: “Make payment
of salaries a priority”; “Our salaries can’t take us home again”;
“Electricity tariff hike in the face of darkness is the height of
wickedness”; “Building infrastructure without payment of salaries is
corruption”; “Owing workers’ salaries is an act of corruption”; “No
electricity, no industrialisation”; “Replace importation with
production” and “Non-payment of pension is bad governance” and others.
About two hours later, the leaders
emerged from the Presidential Villa to inform the workers that they were
well-received by the Acting President in company of some cabinet
ministers and given the assurance that their demands will be looked into
by the government.
Also, human rights lawyer Mr. Femi
Falana yesterday called on President Muhammadu Buhari to prosecute
those, who diverted the money meant for Internally Displaced Persons
(IDPs).
He spoke at Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’ office when organised labour made a peaceful protest to his office.
Falana, while appreciating labour, said:
“President Buhari should flush out corrupt officials out of his
government and those involved in the diversion of IDPs money should be
prosecuted.”
The lawyer urged states to join the fight against corruption.
His word: “In spite of the promises made
by this government to make life good for the people, pensioners are
dying; things are getting difficult every day.
“I urged organised labour to ensure
payment of pensions and salaries of workers. Despite recession, convoys
of governors are still very long and they still purchase cars.”
According to him, Buhari government should know that “the honeymoon is over”.
Falana, who wished Buhari speedy recovery, condemned officials of government who travel abroad for medical treatments.
“It is a shame that our governors and President still travel abroad for medical treatment”, he said.
Commissioner for Establishment Akintola Benson promised to deliver the message to the governor.
Source: The Nation
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