The Presidency says the planned nationwide protest by the Trade Union Congress (TUC) is not needed at this time.
The TUC had threatened to demonstrate nationwide over corrupt practises allegedly going on in government agencies particularly in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
“The posture of the leaders shows that they are very selfish people, they don’t care for us even though we are the ones that voted them into the office to run the affairs of the nation on our behalf,” Quadri Olaleye, President of the workforce body told reporters at the weekend in Abuja.
“In the NDDC, money meant for diplomacy ended up the hands of few people. Procedures on giving out contracts were not followed and contracts in NDDC became a sharing lots to some cabals, some few elements in the country,” Mr Olaleye said, adding that leaders of the TUC have been asked to mobilise for the planned action scheduled for the second week of August.
But Garba Shehu, spokesman to President Muhammadu Buhari, said the protest is ill-advised and uncalled for at the moment.
Mr Shehu, who said this is because his principal and the national assembly were already investigating on some of the allegations, advised the TUC to rather partner with the president in fighting corruptions than stampede him.
“The reported plan by the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to embark on a nationwide protest over the alleged President Buhari’s “inaction over the high-level of corruption uncovered at the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)” is ill advised and totally uncalled for, considering that there are ongoing investigations in the cases by both the Executive and Legislative arms of government,” the presidential spokesman said in a Monday statement.
“These processes must be allowed to run their full courses. It is against the norm in a democratic society as well as the natural laws of justice to seek “action,” meaning punishment against offenders before proper investigation, trial and conviction.
“The President has made it clear that the allegations that have surfaced clearly “constitute a breach of trust” and as the investigations take hold and close out, all those found wanting will face the wrath of the law.
“This administration is committed to doing just that, and organizations like the TUC should be extending a hand in supporting such a fight that is in our collective interest,” the statement partly read.
