The protesters, under the auspices of the #IStandWithNigeria, visited the National Assembly where they presented their 18-point demand to Senate President Bukola Saraki, before they went to Aso Rock and were received by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, Minister of Labour, Chris Ngige; and the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu.
The President of the NLC, Mr. Ayuba Wabba, had while addressing the protesters said workers were the worst affected by the “absence of good governance, transparency, accountability’ and corruption” in the country.
Wabba, who wondered how some of the corruption suspects could divert huge amount of public funds to the tune of billions of naira, said that such people should be ‘named, shamed’ and have one of their arms amputated as a mark on those who stole to the tune of N1bn.
Wabba said, “We are demanding for increased light, they are saying pay for tariff, we are demanding for minimum wage, they are saying they are going to pay in percentages, this is not what we bargain for.
“…We demand that corruption suspects should be named and shamed. They (the government) should also cut off one of the arms of anybody that stole public money to the tune of N1bn. What is someone doing with N1bn?”
Also, the President of the TUC, Bobboi Kaigama, said the organised Labour would collaborate with the anti-graft agencies to track bailout funds given to state governments to offset workers’ salaries, which he alleged were being diverted by some governors.
He said that the diversion of public funds by a few was partly responsible for the current hardship.
Ałso, a former Vice-President of the NLC, Mr. Isah Aremu, described non-payment of salaries to workers as official corruption.
He also wondered why some people were opposed to the confirmation of Mr. Ibrahim Magu as the substantive chairman of the EFCC.
He said that some of the senators opposed to Magu’s confirmation were 'customers of the EFCC'.
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