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TUC Planned Protest Is Ill Advised, Uncalled For –Presidency

The Presidency has described the planned protest by Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) as ill-advised and uncalled for.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity, Garba Shehu made this known in a statement on Monday.

The statement reads, “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”.

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.

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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.

“The TUC, as an enlightened group of labour Unionists, should indeed voice their indignation whenever such acts are being unearthed”.

“However the expectation will be for it to also raise the bar higher, in terms of the debate concerning the impact of such allegations on our ability, to create and retain employment, attract investment, improve the living conditions of its members and citizens, and how a preponderance of these heinous crimes decimates any gains being made in other spheres”.

“The world is confronted with a global public health crisis, decline in economic growth, and expanding areas of conflict by non-state actors”.

“All these ills in their singular or combined form are consuming every nation. Nigeria is no exception; we must hold the line and lock arms that way we rid ourselves of these existential issues whilst we grapple with those that are our own homegrown problems.

“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 TUC had earlier called for public mass protest against the government and its institutions over what it described as high level of corruption in the country.

President and Secretary-General of TUC, Quadri Olaleye and Musa-Lawal Ozigi respectively, in a statement, said it was inhuman for government to hike electricity tariff, Value Added Tax (VAT) and price of petrol only for the criminals in government to loot the money through award of illegal contracts.

The congress said it would henceforth take serious action against government policies, “because you cannot keep telling the people to tighten their belts while you loosen yours.”

Olaleye and Ozigi, in the statement, said the union was disturbed by alleged corrupt activities going at the ministries, agencies and parastatals and had vowed to call out members “to reclaim Nigeria from an insignificant few that have cornered the wealth of the country to themselves and cronies.”

They said the revelations at the National Assembly during the recent probe of the activities at the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and the collapse of the Managing Director, Prof. Kemebradikumo Pondei, were nothing but a national disgrace

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