TUC To Mobilise Mass Protest Against Govt, Institutions Over Corruption

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By UDO ONYEKA

The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) says it is considering mobilising the general public for a mass protest against government and institutions over rising corruption.

TUC said it is disturbed by the corrupt activities going on at highest level of Government ministries, agencies and parastatals and has vowed to call out members to reclaim Nigeria from an insignificant few that have cornered the wealth of the country to themselves and  their cronies.

TUC in a statement signed by its President Comrade Quadri A. Olaleye and Secretary General, Comrade (Barr.) Musa-Lawal Ozigi said the revelations at the National Assembly during the recent probe on the activities at the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and the collapsing of the Commission’s Managing Director, Prof. Kemebradikumo Pondei, are nothing but a national disgrace.

”  It is indeed obvious that the country has become a big joke before the international community.

” How could all these happen in a region without portable water,  good schools and road network? “How could NDDC spend N122.9 million for condolences when there is no good hospital for the sick? Why should this happen in a region where governors are saying they do not have the financial strength to pay the new minimum wage? Yet our leader, Muhammadu Buhari is celebrated world wide as anti corruption czar”, TUC queried.

The Union said NDDC, like others are jinxed.Everyone placed in charge of them steal from them and threaten  whistleblowers.

According to TUC until the government in power ceases to see appointments as political settlement the country will not make any significant progress, adding that developments have shown that it is not a matter of a particular political party, but a gang up against the state and Nigerians.

The Union said, “the reason they want to remain in power is to cover their evil tracks – they serve out their tenures as governors and work their way to the Senate or House of Representatives just to maintain their grip on the treasury. “Why should the National Assembly members leave the business of making laws to pursue contracts? The lawmakers award contracts to themselves, receive payment upfront but never move to site”.

 We hereby use this opportunity to call on Nigerians to learn from what is happening now and stop trading their destinies and that of their children for packs of indomie, matches and wrapper materials. The current level of corruption now is far more than what we have had since independence. It gets worse by the day.

TUC said President Muhammadu Buhari should ensure that the current cases are not swept under the carpet.

“For once let action be taken and culprits seriously dealt with like it is done in most climes. The Congress shall henceforth take serious action against government policies because you cannot keep telling the people to tighten their belts while you loosen yours.

” It is inhuman to hike electricity tariff, VAT, increase the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) otherwise known as fuel only for the criminals in government to loot the money”, TUC said.