Labour drums support for Buhari’s anti-graft war

fight against corruption is for everyone – Okowa

Organised labour on Thursday marched through major streets of various state capitals and Abuja, drumming support for President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption posture.

In Lagos, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, who addressed the rally, which terminated at Lagos House, Ikeja, said union leaders must work together with governments at all levels to stamp out all forms of corrupt practices from the polity.

The state chapters of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) and Committee for Defense for Human Right (CDHR) led the rally in Lagos, tagged; “NLC say no to corruption and supports good governance’’.

President Buhari had assured Nigerians that he would apply all necessary measures to tackle insecurity and corruption in the country.

Governor Ambode, represented by Tunji Bello, secretary to the state government, said the government was opened to all to make useful contributions for the development of the country.

“Our doors are open to the input of workers to assist the government to deliver its promises and make the economy better. I promise to deliver your message to Aso rock (Buhari),’’ the governor said.

Idowu Adelakun, Lagos State chairman of the NLC who presented a letter from the National President of NLC, Ayuba Wabba to Ambode, said that the objective of the rally was to ensure that the war against corruption succeeds.

Adelakun said that the NLC wants corruption culprits’ to be punished according to the law and that external forces should not stop the president from continuing its anti-corruption plans.

Also, Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa charged labour unions to collaborate with government in the fight against corruption in order to have enough resources for the development of the nation.

The governor gave the charge Thursday while addressing members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), Delta State chapter who besieged the Government House Asaba, on a peaceful Anti-Corruption and Good Governance Rally.

Okowa urged the organised labour to partner government at all levels in the fight against corruption so as to stamp out the menace, “so that we will be able to free more money that will be available to develop our state for the good of all.

“Mr. President has spoken and we are expecting that he is going to lead by example and I know that he will. The NLC and TUC presidents have also spoken and I know that they are going to lead by example, and as individuals we have to remain conscious and vigilant as well.

I Buna Izisiq, state chairman of CDHR said that the rally was in support of anti-corruption campaign and to ensure that workers are freed from slave labour.

Earlier, in his welcome address, David Ofonyeno, chairman, Delta State chapter of the NLC, said the rally was a directive from the national body for organised labour to hold a peaceful rally against corruption and draw the attention of the political authority to the damage corruption had done to the country.

He commended the governor for transparency in governance, saying “we are happy for the audience granted us, we are not here to rally against the state government because we know the government of Delta State is not corrupt.”