NLC urges Buhari to extend anti-graft war to states, local governments

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to extend the Federal Government’s anti-corruption campaign to states and local governments across the country.

Speaking recently at the third National Delegates’ Conference of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, said the war against corruption should not stop at the federal ministries or past government officials alone, but should be extended to states and local government councils.

He said the battle against corruption has been acknowledged across the globe to have been largely responsible for Nigeria’s current economic recession and cannot be successful if the judiciary itself is a suspect.

He insisted that the Federal Government also needs to look into financial books of states and local governments in response to the allegation of mass looting of public funds by some of the immediate past governors and those connected to them.

“We, as workers, have suffered more than enough consequences of the effect of corruption which has manifested in the inability of employers, especially states and local governments, to pay salaries of workers. Also, industries have collapsed as a direct result of misappropriation and stealing of public funds, leading to inflation, devaluation of our national currency, job losses, and unemployment.”

The labour leader recommended a full investigation into the workings of what he indicated was a compromised Judiciary, he said.

According to him, “the union is worried by the mass looting of public treasury by the immediate past governors, and they must return all illegal monies stolen from public treasury.

“There is interference in the Judiciary, which has often resulted in conflicting judgments by courts of the same status.

“Some highly placed government officials also interfere in the judgments delivered by the courts and the situation has given a bad name to the Judiciary.”

He then appealed for the strengthening of the anti-corruption institutions and the setting up of special courts to speedily, but judiciously dispose of corruption cases.

“The NLC, being a leading pan-Nigeria organisation will continue to represent the interests of all Nigerians, as we believe our unity and collective determination has the capacity to obstruct our common detractors from further driving the country to abyss.