The 2013 May Day celebration in Abuja, Nigeria’s federal capital city, didn’t go without the federal government and the Labour Union indirectly throwing words at each other.
First, it was the Labour president, Comrade Abdulwahed Omar who expressed dissatisfaction at the way President Jonathan’s administration has handled issues of corruption.
Omar frowned at the pardon granted DSP Alamieyeseigha by the President. He also disclosed that at the moment, the government cannot categorically state the number of barrels of crude oil the country produces.
“The crisis of under-development which continues to engulf the nation is fuelled mainly by corruption,” said Omar.
The NLC boss then asked, “can we today in good conscience say how many barrels of oil are actually pumped from our reserves?” adding that, “a huge number of barrels are unaccounted for or ‘privatised’ daily.”
“Huge allocations, running into billions and trillions of naira, are made to power development, roads, agriculture, and other sectors annually without measurable corresponding impact,” he continued, while urging the government to “take the fight against corruption more seriously.”
He noted that, “over the past 10 years, there has been a catalogue of corruption allegations against highly placed government officials announced with fanfare, in some cases charged to court, but which have since vanished from national view without diligent prosecution.”
He also added that, “many are beginning to fear that the more recent cases of oil subsidy sleaze will follow in the same unsavory path.”
Reacting to issues raised by the Labour leader, President Jonathan, in his speech, agreed that the Labour has been in the forefront of fighting against corruption but was quick to note that members of the Labour are actually the ones involved in the corruption identified by Omar.
“Labour has been in the forefront of the demand for good governance and increased action against corruption, and these issues are being vigorously tackled on various fronts,” President Jonathan told the gathering.
He then advised the Labour to work on its members who the real perpetrators of the corrupt acts.
“Given that some of these perpetrators are senior and junior members of labour unions, greater attention to peer review action on the part of labour, will be much appreciated,” President Jonathan stated.
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