$2.1bn arms scandal: NLC applauds Buhari’s anti-graft crusade  

Leadership of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Thursday applauded the successes recorded so far by the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration in combating corruption.

Ayuba Wabba, NLC president, who gave the commendation in Abuja, Thursday, noted that the ongoing messy revelations on the $2.1 billion arms deal had vindicated the Congress’ support for the fight against corruption.

In the bid to achieve the feat, Wabba emphasised the need for the Judiciary to rise to the challenge by ensuring speedy disposal of corruption cases.

“We believe with prescription of more stringent punishment for corruption cases, few will dare to go to this extent. We need no telling that massive corruption in the system is responsible for our lack of development and our present economic woes.

“Rising cases of alienation, civil disobedience, crime and insurgency are directly traceable to wanton cases of corruption in high places, which did not only create avoidable diseases, ignorance and poverty, but have totally incapacitated our people.

“We as a people and as a nation cannot continue like this, except we want to continue to be the laughing stock of other nations and except we want to create a state of anarchy. Because certainly, our teeming youths and the army of the unemployed who look unto their country for their means of livelihood will not fold their hands while a few individuals corner the national resources,” Wabba said.

While calling on the administration to redouble its effort, the NLC helmsman emphasised the Congress’ resolve for good governance and fight against corruption, just as he called for entrenchment of the culture of accountability and the need to ensure that public officers were accountable in and out of office.

“The terms of reference of the Professor Itse Saggay Committee should be expanded to accommodate receiving confidential information on corruption, and forwarding same to anti-corruption agencies for prosecution and recovery.

“Legislation and policies should be put in place to protect whistle blowers. We urge the National Assembly to rise to this challenge immediately,” he said.

He also applauded the courage of Shuaibu Salisu to the unravelling of the monumental corruption in the arms deal.

“We urge civil servants to follow the sterling example of Shuaibu Salisu as well as call upon the government to ensure the safety of such civil servants. We assure such civil servants of our protection, as we will not hesitate to shut down any organisation that attempts to oppress or witch hunt any whistle blower.

“On our part, we urge President Muhammadu Buhari not to relent in his war against corruption. Even if it is his only major achievement in four years, it will suffice. At least it would have succeeded in loot recovery as well as set a national moral barometer capable of attracting international confidence and respectability.”

 

KEHINDE AKINTOLA