Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday received an 18-point demands from the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUCN) at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Osinbajo told the unionists led by the President of NLC, Comrade Abubakar Wabba and the President-General of TUC, Comrade Bobboi Kaigama that the present administration inherited a bad economy.
He said the federal government had to bail out majority of the state governments three times at a time it was losing 60 per cent of revenue on account of restiveness in the Niger Delta region.
He commended the organised labour for taking up the campaign on behalf of Nigerians to the Villa, saying that a democratically elected government must constantly report to the people and be accountable to them.
He said, however, that Nigerians must endure the pains of a biting recession if the country would be better as there is no gain without pain.
“If the leadership of this country is not honest there is no way this country can survive. We will continue to go round the circle. things might be difficult today, but I am completely sure if we stay the course this country will not only get out of recession but always go to the path of sustainable development. If we don’t fight corruption all we are doing is a waste,” he said.
He said the present administration was committed to the wellbeing of Nigerians and has been judiciously managing resources to live up to its responsibilities as the country was operating “at less than 60 per cent of revenues as at 2015 till today.”
Osinbajo also expressed concern that some Nigerians were averse to the anti-corruption fight which is helping the government to save some resources.
“Every time you fight corruption the way we are trying to fight corruption, there is a major fight back, because corruption in this country is wealthy, powerful, influential and it is in every aspect of our lives. It is in practically all institutions including religious institutions. The social media campaign of bring back corruption is an orchestrated one. Nobody that is suffering can say bring back corruption,” he said.
In his remarks, president of NLC, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, said the labour unions and their allies decided to visit the Presidential Villa as part of their protest and national action for good governance and the fight against corruption.
He said the workers were concerned about good governance and the systemic corruption in the country, stressing that workers would like to see a Nigeria where public office holders forfeit assets that they refused to declare.
He said workers would like to see the federal government’s anti-corruption war permeating down to all levels of government.
Also speaking, President-General of TUCN, Comrade Bobboi Kaigama said the unionists and their civil society allies were prepared to support government’s fight against corruption.
“It is a fight every Nigerian must be part of. Government at all levels and arms should abide with rule of law, corruption should not be tolerated. We are here to identify with government in his resolve to fight corruption,” he said.