Beware of saboteurs, Labour tells Buhari

THE Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) has advised President Muhammadu Buhari to be wary of fifth columnist who ‘always push successive Governments’ to implement anti-people’s policies.

According to ASCSN Secretary-General, Alade Bashir Lawal, the advice became necessary ‘because certain pitfalls that characterised governance in the last Federal Administration are still subsisting’.

Lawal in a statement pointed out that: “ it is surprising that thousands of public servants in some Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) have not been paid their salaries since October 2015.

“This is the same ugly situation that prevailed last year until this union was compelled to threaten a nation-wide strike before salaries of workers could be paid.”

According to the union, MDAs owing workers’ salaries include the Federal Ministries of Education, Information, Trade and Investment, Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, among others.

The union urged President Buhari to take urgent steps to fish out ‘saboteurs’ in the system ‘who were bent on frustrating his good intentions for Nigerian workers’.

Lawal said: “Above all, Mr President should immediately direct the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Budget Office of the Federation to release necessary funds so that thousands of public servants can be paid their salaries to enable them enjoy the forthcoming Christmas and New Year festivities.

“This persistent policy to kill-joy by past Federal Administrations should not be allowed to continue and we believe firmly that President Buhari has the capacity to bring it to an end by not only directing that salaries should be paid up-to–date but also that the situation will not repeat itself again,” the union added.

The ASCSN explained that the Trade Unions has implicit confidence in President Buhari to sanitize the polity, noting that was why the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) few months ago organised rallies to support the anti-corruption war of Mr. President.