Workers set to be corruption whistleblowers: NLC President

Thursday, April 21, 2016 4:27 pm

NLC President Ayuba Wabba with Magu, right

NLC President Ayuba Wabba, second right, with Magu, right

President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Ayuba Wabba, has assured the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, of the union’s unalloyed support in the fight against economic and financial crimes.

He also gave the EFCC, a heart warming news: more and more civil servants are ready to be anti-corruption whistleblowers.

Wabba, who led some members of the union to the EFCC headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday stressed the importance of having a united front in confronting the “monster” called corruption.

“Corruption is a monster that has done more harm to our country than any other thing, because it is the cause of the crises in the various sectors of Nigeria be it power, health or housing,” he said.

Comrade Ayuba Wabba

While noting that the NLC had in the past shown support for the agency, Wabba stressed that more than ever before there was a need to renew such affiliation and unity, because “corruption is now fighting back”.

“We have a situation where people who have stolen from the Commonwealth and are being prosecuted in court, go to their villages to hire people that they take to court to protest on their behalf, just because they have the resources at their disposal,” he said.

“We’ve partnered in the past, but now we have more civil servants who are willing to be whistle blowers to provide information for the EFCC,” he said,

Such a scenario, according to him, necessitated the need to re-energise the NLC’s partnership with the EFCC, as a collective effort was now essential.

“We’ve partnered in the past, but now we have more civil servants who are willing to be whistle blowers to provide information for the EFCC,” he said, adding that the union was also working to galvanise other civil society organisations to assist the agency expand its anti-corruption crusade to the grassroots.

While appreciating the union, the EFCC boss, Ibrahim Magu, assured the delegation that the agency was resolute in carrying out its mandate.

“The negative impact of corruption affects the whole country, including our children and the unborn generation, and so we need your support more than ever before,” he said.

Corruption, according to Magu, was fighting back, as many of those being prosecuted for corrupt practices had the wealth to throw about. He, however, stressed the resolve of the Commission to remain steadfast in executing the war against corruption.

“All of us have the duty to kill corruption,” he said.

Others on the Wabba entourage included Comrade Benson Upah, and Comrade Nuhu Toro.