From Abudlazeez Kayode, Ilorin.
Organised labour has called on President Buhari to be weary of sycophants around him and concentrate on his electoral promises of putting an end to mass poverty, diversifying the economy and create mass sustainable jobs.
A member of the National Executive Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Vice President Industrial Global Union, Comrade Issa Aremu, made this call at the 4th Women Conference of National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN) in Ilorin recently.
Aremu who is also the General Secretary of the Union observed that President Buhari has recorded notable achievements in the areas of security, anti-corruption and economy, but said more needed to be done in reopening collapsed factories, rebuilding roads and railways and guaranteeing uninterrupted power supply.
However the labour leader hailed the newly appointed Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha for acknowledging that President Muhammadu Buhari administration needed “an emergency acceleration” for the nation to get out of its present situation. Comrade observed that for so long the President had been “a Lone Ranger” adding that Boss Mustapha’s simplicity and sense of urgency was timely.
He also declared Labour support for President Buhari on action he took on Maina, Ayodele Oke and David Babachir saga, former Chairman of Pension Taskforce, as well as the sack of former SGF, David Babachir and former Director-General of the National Intelligent Agency, Ayodele Oke based on allegations of corruption against them and their subsequent prosecution.
The labour leader hailed the Head of Service of the Federation for her courage in applying the appropriate rules on Maina. According to him, the Maina scandal underscore crisis of governance. He called on PENCOM and PITAD to be more active in protecting pension assets in the country.
Comrade Issa Aremu finally caution Senate on what he called “the self-commendation” by the Senate on the sacked former Secretary to the Federal Government saying there was nothing salutary in identifying shortcomings in the Executive when the legislature shielded itself from public scrutiny.
He said until the National Assembly exposed corruption within itself as President Buhari had done with his officials, any “chest beating” by legislators was “diversionary”. Paraphrasing Senator Shehu Sanni, the labour leader said it was time the legislature used “insecticide” on its chambers rather using “deodorants” on its members accused of abuse of office.