The Nigerian Labour Congress in Plateau State has declared its support for the anti-corruption drive of President Muhammadu Buhari, and has urged the Federation Government to help the State in its drive to recover funds looted funds.

The Plateau NLC gave their support through a peaceful rally organised by the organised labour union comprising of NLC and TUC.

The organised labour who mobilize its members and match through the streets of Jos said the peaceful walk was a declaration of their support for President Buhari’s anti-corruption crusade.

In their protest message which the unions presented to the plateau state governor for onward delivery to president Buhari reads: “corruption has created a very bad image for the country and its citizens – Nigerians are viewed as corrupt and dubious people outside the country, almost anywhere you go.

Plateau State NLC Chairman, Comrade Jibrin Bancir who read the protest message during the rally said, “Labour unions in the state are matching against corruption in the state and Nigeria as a whole.

“We are calling on President Muhammadu Buhari, and the Plateau state governor Simon Lalong to ensure that all funds identified to have been stolen from the common treasury in Plateau is traced and recovered to the last kobo.

“Such recovered funds should be kept in a special account and appropriated for Job creation , funding educational infrastructure from primary to tertiary institutions and for upgrading our health care infrastructure.

According to him, “Corruption prevents the provision of basic social amenities for the citizenry as the money meant development is often pocketed by a few , thereby making governance impossible.

“Non payment of salaries has been attributed to corrupt practices of state governors , who have gone into heavy borrowing from the banks to carry out huge projects they clearly have no capacity for , and use them as conduit pipes to siphon public into their personal pockets , while some use the money meant for the state to campaign for re-elections.

He added that, “The only thing we need to do now is to stand as a union and fight this evil called corruption, NLC would continue to support the current leadership at the Federal and state level against corruption.

“We call on the Federal government to set up Special Anti – corruption courts to try corruption cases in the country, realising that those who have looted our treasury have become adept at using the loopholes in procedure of regular courts to delay and in several cases subverting the causes of Justice”

He also said that all public officers (elected and appointed) should publicly declare their assets and liabilities upon assumption of office.

Addressing the members of the state organised labour at the government house Little Rayfield , the Plateau state governor , Simon Lalong said the state government would continue to support the fight against corruption and it is doing everything possible to recover the funds stolen in the previous administration.

Governor Lalong, who was represented by his deputy, Sonni Tyoden described corruption as a cankerworm which has eaten deep into the society.

The governor commended the labour union for supporting ongoing anti-corruption campaign.

He also assured the workers that government will continued to handle issue of workers welfare as top priority.

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Plateau NLC Call on FG to Assist PLSG in Recovering Stolen Funds