Extend Corruption Fight to States, Wabba Tells FG

• Extend Corruption Fight to States, Wabba Tells FG

The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Mr. Ayuba Wabba, has called on the Federal Government to extend anti-graft war to states.

Wabba described the level of corruption in some states as unprecedented, saying many state governors have diverted the Paris Club loan refund released to states for their personal use.

Speaking on Friday during the 4th Quadrennial National Delegates Conference of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Wabba urged Nigerians to demand accountability from their leaders.

He added that with the second batch of the money about to be released, the Federal Government should muster the will to audit states to ensure that the funds are judiciously spent for the settlement of outstanding salaries, pensions and gratuities.

He threatened that labour was waiting on the wings to start aggressive agitation to attract the attention of the Federal Government to the fact that corruption must be fought at all levels, including the states.

The NLC boss urged employers of labour at all levels to see workers as partners in progress and not as liabilities.

He said, “What we are saying is that the government should also musters the will to make sure that the first trench that was released is accounted for, because there were controversies that N19bn was diverted by the governors’ forum.

“Outside the goodwill to make these funds available, the issue of transparency and accountability in governance, which is lacking in some states, must be pursued.

“We are going to start our agitation very seriously and rigorously to push that corruption should be fought at all levels.”

He described the current recession being experienced in the country as manmade, adding that it would take a focused leader to put the wrongs of the past governments right.

“If the economy was mismanaged by people, it will take the act of people to put the economy back on track; you will not expect God in heaven to come to correct what we have done. It will take good leaders with focus, transparency and accountability to be able to address the situation,” he said.

The outgoing President of Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, Mr. Anthony Emmanuel Nted, said the survival of the country’s economy depends on the workability of the maritime sector.

He noted that the country’s maritime sector has suffered because of policy inconsistencies.

He said, “Therefore, any government policy that affects efficiency of the ports and quality service delivery is bound to have collateral effect on the entire economy.”