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.
Source:The
Nation
Tags
Society