NLC urges FG to invest recovered loots on infrastructure

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has urged the Federal Government to invest the recently recovered looted funds in critical infrastructure towards developing the country.

In a statement made available to The Guardian signed by NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, the Congress commended the government for rendering a transparent account of the recoveries stating that the quantum of the recoveries had vindicated labour’s unqualified support for the fight against corruption and its insistence that more stringent punishment be prescribed for corruption cases.

According to Wabba, the discoveries have also exposed the extent of the rot in the system and why virtually everything in the polity failed to work.

He, however, called for the creation of a special court for the handling of corruption cases in addition to strengthening the anti-corruption agencies.

“We recall that in our national rally against corruption, we had made the point that we must look at the bigger picture of national recovery by ensuring that recovered funds be deployed into critical infrastructure such as roads, power, key industries and other sectors capable of stimulating the economy.

“Accordingly, we find it necessary to once again urge the government to deploy these recovered funds into the aforementioned key infrastructure or sectors,” he said.

While reiterating the importance of the fight against corruption, the NLC president said Nigerians, as a people, could not continue to live in corruption, stressing that Nigerians must be firm and resolute in their support for good governance and the anti-graft war.

He said that the judiciary had a big role to play by ensuring timely and speedy disposal of corruption cases.“Certainly, we as a people cannot continue to live like this, except we want to be the laughing stock of the rest of the world.

“Similarly, our teeming youths and the army of the unemployed, who look up to their country for their means of livelihood, will not fold their hands while a few privileged individuals corner the national resources.

“We believe for the war against corruption to endure, we as a people must be firm and resolute in our support for good governance and fight against corruption.

“We must entrench the culture of accountability, ensuring that public officers are accountable even when out of office.“Finally, as more recoveries are made, we expect more disclosures on not just the funds, but how they are used or to be used,” Wabba said.

Meanwhile, NLC called on the government not to relent in its recovery drive and its fight against corruption, noting that the recovered funds so far were just a tip of the iceberg.