Magu & others urge civil servants to become whistle blowers

EFCC Boss

The acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, in a statement signed by the spokesman for the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, on Monday has urged workers, especially civil servants being owed being owed salaries, to join the anti-corruption war by becoming whistleblowers.
The EFCC boss said it was unfortunate that despite the huge sums of money released to the states by the Federal Government for the payment of salaries, thousands of workers were still being owed.

Magu said, “In recent times, it is no longer news that workers are owed salaries. Workers in some states of the federation can’t even remember the last time they collected their salaries at the end of the month. And this in spite of the bailout packages paid to some of the states by the Federal Government.

“The pathetic state of the Nigerian worker is a paradox in a nation that is abundantly blessed with material resources. Without any doubt, the Nigerian worker is the greatest victim of the mismanagement of the nation’s wealth. Part of that mismanagement is driven by corruption. What should have been used to bring better life to Nigerians including workers is stolen by a few people that found themselves in positions of leadership. The stealing of our common patrimony must not be allowed to continue.

“For Nigerian workers to be assured of better life, things must change. And part of that change is that the fight against corruption must be accorded more pride of place with workers themselves taking more active roles in this important campaign. Most of the corrupt activities that go on in ministries, departments and agencies are not without the knowledge of workers. So, the onus is on workers themselves to resolve to put a stop to this looting by becoming active whistleblowers.”

Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State and his Plateau State counterpart, Simon Lalong, have urged workers, especially civil servants being owed salaries, to join the anti-corruption war by becoming whistleblowers.

Magu was quoted as saying this in a statement signed by the spokesman for the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, on Monday.

The EFCC boss said it was unfortunate that despite the huge sums of money released to the states by the Federal Government for the payment of salaries, thousands of workers were still being owed.

He lamented the high rate of corruption in Ministries Departments and Agencies and urged the civil servants to expose their corrupt superiors.

Magu said, “In recent times, it is no longer news that workers are owed salaries. Workers in some states of the federation can’t even remember the last time they collected their salaries at the end of the month. And this in spite of the bailout packages paid to some of the states by the Federal Government.

“The pathetic state of the Nigerian worker is a paradox in a nation that is abundantly blessed with material resources. Without any doubt, the Nigerian worker is the greatest victim of the mismanagement of the nation’s wealth. Part of that mismanagement is driven by corruption. What should have been used to bring better life to Nigerians including workers is stolen by a few people that found themselves in positions of leadership. The stealing of our common patrimony must not be allowed to continue.

“For Nigerian workers to be assured of better life, things must change. And part of that change is that the fight against corruption must be accorded more pride of place with workers themselves taking more active roles in this important campaign. Most of the corrupt activities that go on in ministries, departments and agencies are not without the knowledge of workers. So, the onus is on workers themselves to resolve to put a stop to this looting by becoming active whistleblowers.”

Magu said this would help instil more discipline in the use of public resources and ultimately guarantee a better future for us and our children.

Still on the call to fight against corruption, the Plateau state governor, Gov. Lalong on Monday called on civil servants to assist in the fight against corruption in the state, saying the graft war should not be the responsibility of the government alone.

Lalong spoke during an event put together by the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, Plateau State chapters, in commemoration of this year’s Workers’ Day with the theme, “Labour relations in economic recession: An appraisal.”

He challenged civil servants to assist in the war against corruption, saying government could not do it alone.

Lalong said, “It is our expectation that our public workers will reciprocate the goodwill and sincere effort of government, with a greater commitment to duty and discipline. We must also with a sense of patriotism do all that is necessary to put a check on all corrupt practices in our work places.”

Gov. Obaseki of Edo state, also on Monday called on the organised labour to collaborate with the state government in the fight against all forms of unethical practice, including corruption, in the civil service.

Obaseki, who made the call during the May Day celebration held at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin, the state capital, described the labour workforce as a vital player in ensuring efficiency and productivity in government.

He also urged the unions to draw inspiration from the patriotism, sacrifice and contributions of their past leaders and heroes to chart a new path of progress.

The governor disclosed that efforts to curb waste in revenue and productivity had already yielded results as his administration had recorded an increase in internally generated revenue, since its inception in November, 2016.

This, he said, included a daily increase of N500,000 from nine locations in Oredo Local Government Area, as against the N45,000 generated in the past.