NLC To SGF: Economic Saboteurs Are Treasury Looters, Drive In Convoys.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has castigated the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, over his comment that the shutting down of the National Grid during the nationwide strike by the Organised Labour amounted to treasonable felony and economic sabotage.
The NLC said it was particularly disheartening that the SGF, Senator Akume, a high-ranking government official, would make statements that trivialize the genuine grievances of Nigerian workers, stressing that his assertion that he cannot afford to pay each of his four drivers N100,000 monthly is a stark reminder of the disconnect between the government and the realities faced by ordinary Nigerians.
The NLC specifically said that said the economic saboteurs are those wearing flowing Agbada (robes), who drive in convoys and occupy the corridors of power, stressing that the SGF surely knows those whose actions are treasonable and sabotage the nation’s economy.
These were contained in a statement by the spokesperson of the NLC, Comrade Benson Upah in which he further said that those who loot our treasury around the country, divert public resources meant for hospitals and schools, involved in foreign exchange round tripping, padding of budgets and inflating contracts including those who steal trillions of Naira in the name of subsidies are the real economic saboteurs who commit treasonable felony.
The SGF had said the shutdown of the National Grid by members of the NLC and Trade Union Congress (TUC) amounted to treasonable felony and lamented the loss of revenue by the Federal Government due to the action of the Organised Labour.
In its statement however, the NLC said the demands of workers are grounded in the need for economic justice and fairness for all Nigerian workers and citizens, adding that the demands are clear and just.
Labour said; “We seek the conclusion and signing into law of a new national minimum wage that is in sync with the realities of the cost of living, a reversal of the hike in electricity tariff to N65/kWh, and an end to the discriminatory classification of electricity consumers into bands.
“These demands are grounded in the need for economic justice and fairness for all Nigerian workers and citizens.
The SGF, we are sure, knows those whose actions are treasonable and sabotage our economy.
“Those who loot our treasury around the country, those who divert public resources meant for hospitals and schools; those who are involved in foreign exchange round tripping: padding of budgets and inflating contracts including those who steal trillions of Naira in the name of subsidies are the real economic saboteurs who commit treasonable felony.
“These people are in costly Agbada and drive in convoys all around the nation occupying the corridors of power and not innocent workers who are not slaves but chose to withdraw their services because of the inhuman treatment meted on them by the Government,” the NLC insisted.
