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That NLC Public Rally In Support Of Anti-Corruption Campaign
That NLC Public Rally In Support Of Anti-Corruption Campaign
Last week Thursday, organised labour, under the aegis of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) hit the road in different uniforms and face caps. It was a solidarity walk in support of the Gen. Muhammadu Buhari-led government’s anti-corruption campaign.
Several Chapters of the NLC undertook the walk in their various states to public institutions and engaged elected representatives of the executive and legislative arms and also visited the courts.
NLC President (don’t know if the factions have harmonised) led some workers to the National Assembly, the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF and indeed the Judiciary. Apparently overwhelmed by the anti-corruption drive, the NLC President promised labour’s undiluted support to the Federal Government’s programme, in all its ramifications.
The NLC President did not end there. He went further to threaten that Labour will henceforth engage judges who allow questionable adjournments intended to delay justice. Workers, he also said, would practically bundle to the courts, corruption suspects who continue to lie under technicalities to defend themselves.
What the NLC President practically implies, is that workers would henceforth, take-over the duties of the Police and other security agencies by bundling suspects to courts and at other times perform the functions of the National Judicial Council (NJC) by dealing with judges, perceived to be stumbling blocks to the anti-corruption crusade of the federal government.
The spirit, drive and tenacity of organised labour are indeed commendable. It indeed underscores labour’s willingness and readiness to rise to the occasion and confront what it considers a critical national malady, responsible for the nation’s dwindling revenue. Afterall, labour formed part of the national brigade of politicians and statemen who secured independence for Nigeria.
During military rule, when the need for civil rule took the front burner, labour was also on the side of the Press and the Pro-democracy Movement, all of which fought for the actualisation of democratic rule in 1999.
This is why labour’s new line of action should not surprise anyone, afterall, no weapon, humbles public institutions faster than strikes which the NLC has in good measure. Any institution or judge or politician found undermining the NLC’s threat will, without delay, feel its major instrument-strike.
It is for this reason that each time labour coughs, governments at all levels catch cold. Labour has coughed. It has threatened fire and brimstone but not many have caught cold this time.
For one thing, organised labour and many of its workers are not completely innocent of the corruption NLC marched against last Thursday. As accountants, some of them facilitate fleecing of public funds by public officers; as cashiers, they enhance easy preparation of schedules and cheques, for various fees, as tanker drivers, some divert supplies to areas they are not meant; as teachers, they impose all manner of questionable levies and toiletries on their pupils; as NNPC line operators they make discharges to oil thieves; as journalists, they sing the praise of politicians who spend between N100 and N200 million on the marriages of their children, as filling station attendants, they favour the black market; as theatre artistes, they source sponsorship from known corrupt politicians to get bye, and some of them are partisan politicians, even thugs.
How can such corrupt workers sit in judgment over bigger thieves? Won’t ‘one bag’ be enough to dismiss them?
Surely, no generalisation is intended, but can the NLC leadership say without fear of contradiction that some workers are indeed corrupt? And that without their assistance, no Minister or Commissioner can siphon public funds? Or is the NLC not aware that there are some Grade Level 5 officers, in charge of certain files in key federal ministries that own three to four mansions and a convoy of choice auto-mobiles?
That is why Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, told the NLC delegation that visited him, that the moral cleansing should start first within organised labour ranks. NLC must set-up necessary platforms of indentifying corrupt members among its midst first and foremost before such purification can spill-over.
Beyond such secret crimes, strikes and threats of strike by some labour unions have also become major money spinners. Each time such threats are issued what is discussed is not always the issues in dispute alone. Labour leaders some of them, that is, also get bye, as a means of becoming vocal enough to convince the followership of agreements reached.
This is partly why strikes re-occur for the same reason, with the excuse that either the government promised to implement the issues agreed upon or plans, to but with the familiar inducement, any deprivation should be endured.
At other times, labour movements become tools in the hands of politicians while the NLC looks the other way. For instance, the Rivers State Chapter of the Judicial Workers Union proceeded on strike to enhance the closure of Rivers Courts for over a year over reasons that are insulting to the ears.
How does the choice of a Chief Judge in the state affect their jobs and for which they chose to stay away from work? Was it not to please a certain political pressure, at great loss to the peoples, anxious litigants and friends of the courts?
Leader of those unions, we were told were indeed richer for such unholy collaborations or marriage to political pressures against the ethics of the labour movement. Where was NLC? Has organised labour even found it necessary to investigate the role of its members in the political disputations in Rivers State, prior to the 2015 general elections?
Is it not partly for such freebies, which the weapon of strikes often attract, that NLC elections have continued to get more and more rancorous, even more violent than those of politicians? Labour offices are randomly attacked by suspected sympathisers of rival groups while, at other times individuals are assaulted, even maimed.
Infact, up till the rally, various states still have two factions of the NLC, each claiming to be more authentic than the other. And at the national level, the feuding leaders were made to appear on national television in pretenious smiles that all was well. Comrade Governor Adams Oshmole also confirmed same, but it is yet to trickle down to the states?
What does the NLC think is the major attraction to the scramble for power?, Service? Just Service? What of the Power to call strikes which opens all vaults? What of the regular freebies such positions attract during labour day celebrations, even from the most corrupt of governors?
Can the NLC truly depend on check-off dues alone from members to survive? Has it all these years? If any of its many benefactors is found to be guilty of corruption can the NLC return to the state such freebie sourced from the corrupt officer, say Governor, Deputy Governor, Minister or Commissioner? Or join him in prison?
These are why many think that the NLC message of support went far beyond solidarity. It is a threat to lawlessness on bundling to courts, suspects facing corruption allegations and telling judges to leave the law and base their judgements on sentiment to please a government and a labour movement.
These indeed are strong words and those who come before equlity need to do so with clean hands. NLC must first fish-out corrupt workers in its ranks, indentify political labour leaders and secret aides to corrupt public officers before confronting corruption elsewhere.
The war against corruption is one, many Nigerians are in support of, because not only will it help recover stolen public funds for other positive uses, it will also help sanitise the political mine-field of gamblers and rogues.
But that cannot be achieved under condition that convicts suspects even before trial or force judges to convict any one accused of corruption because government expects so, without valid facts. Labour must respect the Rule of Law.
My Agony is that NLC does not even know that even foot soldiers that may be sent on such assignments, as bundling corruption suspects to courts, would days later be so rich, many will scramble for such positions as they do, those of NLC. Let NLC look at the anti-corruption campaign with clean eyes. That’s my advice.
From the fore going, the fight against drug trafficking should be treated as an international challenge with open collaboration, if the world leadership must win the fight!.
The circumstances or should I say the improvement on drug related activities are modifying and updating on daily basis. A close friend of mine in the United States of America who recently visited Jamaica, came with a lot of complicated information about drug trafficking and transaction. Being a qualified Nurse in US and on a visit to the Reggae Country (Jamaica), she said she was put aback when a man approached her and introduced himself as a Pharmacist. According to her, she immediately picked interest due to her professional background. To her, a business partner is birthed. But she was shocked to the narrows on learning that drug dealers or traffickers and subriquited Pharmacist in that Country. From her account, they ( The Jamaican Pharmacists), are the first set to people to meet and greet you at the Airport. No government or authority challenges them in the open due to the sophisticated nature of their transportation
Come to think of it, who would want to attack a Pharmacist on duty? Nigerians are not left out in the improvement on drug deal. A chat with a confident in the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency ( NDLEA) Rivers State Command, so revealed. The Officer draw my attention to the movement of Dispatch Riders. He said part of the reasons they ride with almost speed equivalent of the thunder lightning, is to meet up with the appointment of delivering hard drug consignment to a client of theirs. According to him, those guys popularly referred to as Yahoo Boys are the ones who now payroll dispatch riders so that they can deliver their consignment ( hard drugs) on schedule no matter the sort of traffic or weather condition. The fear of loosing rich clients and that of the unknown treatment that may come of the Boys, as the officer puts it, drives the Riders crazy thus the reason to speed even at the expense of their lives.
The account of a prominent Party Promoter, Wayne Anthony, as obtained online recently, also pointed out that ‘No Legislation Will Stop Clubbers From Doing Drugs’ Party promoter, Wayne Anthony, arrived in Ibiza, a Spanish Island in 1988, at the same time as dance music and the party drug ecstasy. Despite hallucinating badly enough to make him give up the lifestyle forever, he says laws will never stop clubbers taking drugs. “I don’t think you can control these things,” said former party promoter Wayne Anthony. He arrived in Ibiza in 1988 and began setting up club nights and raves in some of the island’s most iconic venues. In the years that followed, the sleepy Spanish island turned into a raver’s haven of clubbing and hedonism, with party drugs like ecstasy commonly found. “What Ibiza represented was this beautiful, hot island which was visually stunning and we knew you could party there quite legally,” said Wayne. “You didn’t have to look over your shoulder. You could just be as free as you possibly could be.”
That freedom came with a price. Along with the lavish clubs, all-day-benders and hot Spanish sun came drug cartels and crime. The city transformed into one the world’s most vibrant party capitals, “fuelled by a dangerous and lucrative drugs trade which drew as many criminals to its shores as it did party animals”. Wayne, one of the contributors to the documentary, spoke to Sky News ahead of its release.”I’m not going to sit here and say the cartels aren’t there. They are all there and they’ve been there from the ’90s,” said Wayne. But he said most people tried to ignore the organised crime going on around them. According to Wayne, clubbers usually took the approach of: “‘Give me 10 E’s . Behind the scenes of the filming of Ibiza Narcos with Wayne Anthony. Behind the scenes of the filming of Ibiza Narcos with Wayne Anthony. Hallucinating giant spiders Although he described the Balearic island as the “motherland”, it was eventually a bad experience with drugs that convinced Wayne it was time to leave Ibiza.
He’d been partying for days when he realised he’d taken too many drugs. A friend told him to drink cough medicine, dangerous advice that he now says could have killed him. “I saw the worst hallucination I’ve ever seen in all of my life. I ended up locking myself in the villa with all the shutters down. When he sobered up, he realised he had “come to the end” of his party life on the island. “I never looked back. I never took another drug. I got away from the club world.” ‘I don’t think you’re going to be able to stop it’ Despite his life-changing experience, he doesn’t think criminalising drugs is a good idea – or particularly effective. “If you’re old enough to vote for who’s going to be a world leader, if you’re old enough to put your name down on debt for 25 years, I feel like you should be old enough to govern what you put inside your own body, you know?” said Wayne.
Back to Nigeria, some illicit drugs worth over N30billion seized at Onne Port in Rivers State.
This blood chilling development forced the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency at the Onne Port, following what authorities described as repeated incidents of importation of dangerous cargo, including arms and ammunition through the said port. To this effect, the government said it was immediately implementing emergency protocols at Onne Port for the next three months by conducting thorough examinations of all suspected containers in the premises.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, in charge of the port via a press conference, said it henceforth, unveiled the seizures of illicit goods by the Nigeria Customs Service, Area 2 Command, Onne in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State. In defence for his action, Adeniyi said the recurring incidents posed a threat to national security, adding that the health of citizens at the Onne Port is increasingly being used as a destination for dangerous and illicit cargo, describing it as a disturbing trend.
The customs boss stated, “Earlier today, I joined numerous stakeholders to take a significant step towards the cause of trade facilitation through the inauguration of upgraded facilities provided by the West Africa Container Terminal, Onne. “As I express delight that trade facilitation is getting traction in Onne Port, I cannot help but call your attention to a grave concern. This has to do with the repeated incidents of national security breaches unfolding in Onne Port. I appreciate your presence, as we all have a shared responsibility in safeguarding our national security. As we are all aware, the policy thrust of Mr President supports the re-energising of our business environment to drive faster import clearance and grow our capacity for exports, Our emphasis has been to promote initiatives that speak to Trade facilitation and economic development. “It is a matter of regret that criminal elements in the international supply chain are exploiting our pro-trade stance to commit atrocities bordering on national security breaches”.
“The attempts to test our will through the importation of dangerous cargo through this port has necessitated the declaration of a state of emergency in Onne Port, coming on the heels of a seizure of a huge cache of arms a couple of months ago. It is disheartening that perpetrators have not backed down on their illegal acts. Recent intelligence and seizures have revealed a disturbing trend; Onne Port is increasingly being used as a destination for dangerous and illicit cargo. The scale and nature of these illegal importations pose a significant threat to our national security and the health of our citizens. Today, we are here to showcase yet another series of significant seizures made by the diligent officers of the Area 2 Command. On display are twelve containers of illicit goods intercepted through a combination of intelligence gathering, inter-agency collaboration, and meticulous physical examination. Seizures on Display include: Three (3) x 40-feet containers: Containing 562,600 bottles of 100ml cough syrup with codeine and 3,150 pieces of chilly cutters, with a Paid Duty Value (DPV) of N4,716,573,846.
“Others are, three x 40-feet containers containing 380,000 bottles of 100ml cough syrup with codeine, 24,480,000 tablets of Royal Tramadol Hydrochloride, 5,350,000 tablets of Tapentadol and Carisoprodol, and other items, with a DPV of N17,432,506,000 were seized”.
According to the report, more seized items were, “Five (5) x 40-feet containers; Containing 892,400 bottles of 100ml cough syrup with codeine, 1,300,000 tablets of 50mg Really Extra Diclofenac, 7,250,000 tablets of 5mg Trodol Benzhexol, and other items, with a DPV of N8, 128,568,295,90. This very action of the Nigeria Customs Service, further complicated the hope of how soon the fight against drug trafficking could be brought to a halt owing to its high profile nature.
Another hair-raising report of the illicit drug deal has it that when NDLEA bursted a Snake-Guarded Shrine Used For Storing Illicit Drugs sometime ago in Edo State. This very news report was published in The Tide Newspaper on June 24, 2024. According to the report, NDLEA said its operatives uncovered a shrine, guarded by a snake, being used for storing illicit drugs, during an operation in Edo State. The Agency in a statement by its spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, added that its operatives discovered a specially constructed large hole in a wall, hidden behind wallpapers and fetish objects used for drug storage. It further noted that methamphetamine, Loud, Colorado and Arizona, all strong strains of cannabis with a total weight of 8.743kg among others, were recovered from the shrine.
To be cont’d
King Onunwor
The persistent clash between farmers and herders in Nigeria has been a longstanding issue. These conflicts, often, over resources like land and water, have led to loss of lives, destruction of property, displacement of large numbers of people, deep-seated mistrust between communities and insecurity. Herders, traditionally nomadic, move their livestock in search of grazing land and water. Farmers, on the other hand, require the same resources for their crops. This competition often leads to clashes, especially in areas where land is becoming increasingly scarce due to population growth, climate change, and environmental degradation. As these clashes intensify, there has been a growing call for sustainable solutions. Two weeks ago, President Bola Tinubu took a bold step towards tackling the issue by inaugurating the Presidential Committee on Implementation of Livestock Reforms and creating the Ministry of Livestock Development.
The committee which has the president as the chairman and the former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega as the deputy chairman has the mandate to address obstacles to agricultural productivity and open up new opportunities which benefit farmers, herders, processors, and distributors in the livestock-farming value chain as well as propose recommendations aimed at fostering a peaceful co-existence between herders and farmers, ensuring the security and economic well-being of Nigerians.The establishment of the Ministry of Livestock Development was part of the recommendations of the National Livestock Reforms Committee. Part of the 21 recommendations submitted to the president include: “This agenda should include the establishment and resuscitation of grazing reserves as suggested by many experts and well-meaning Nigerians and other methods of land utilisation.
“Create the Ministry of Livestock Resources in line with practice in many other West African countries. In the alternative, Federal and State Governments should expand the scope of existing Departments of Livestock Production to address the broader needs of the industry,” among others. Experts in the agricultural sector have posited that the livestock industry can create millions of jobs directly in farming, processing, and distribution, and indirectly in related sectors like feed production, veterinary services, and marketing. It provides livelihoods for rural populations, helping to reduce poverty and improve the quality of life in rural areas. It also increases the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and foreign exchange earnings through the exports of livestock and livestock products such as meat, dairy, wool and leather.
According to them, a well-funded livestock industry supports the growth of agro-processing sectors, such as meat packing, dairy processing, and leather manufacturing, adds value to raw products and creates additional economic activity as well as stimulates the development of supply chains, including logistics, packaging, and retail, contributing to broader economic growth. It enhances economic resilience by diversifying the agricultural sector and providing a buffer against crop failures or other agricultural shocks and many more. Some other agriculturists have also opined that the livestock industry in Nigeria is currently underdeveloped and that by the creation of the ministry of livestock development will open up the industry which will be a huge money spinner for Nigeria.
Reports have shown that a Livestock Ministry can play a pivotal role in mitigating conflicts between farmers and herders by implementing policies and programmes aimed at fostering coexistence and sustainable resource management. The Ministry can work towards clearly demarcating grazing routes and farming areas. This would reduce instances of trespassing and accidental crop destruction, a common flashpoint for conflict. While introducing rotational grazing systems can ensure that land is used sustainably, preventing overgrazing and land degradation, establishing water points and boreholes specifically for livestock can reduce competition for water resources. Similarly, promoting the development of pasturelands through reseeding and controlled burns can improve grazing conditions.
According to a veterinary doctor, Dr Andrew Obadiah, by providing training for herders on sustainable livestock practices and for farmers on conflict resolution, both parties can understand the importance of coexistence. He said that extension services of the ministry can offer advice on improving livestock health and productivity, reducing the need for large herds and extensive grazing. “Setting up local committees involving both farmers and herders to mediate disputes can provide a platform for dialogue and peaceful resolution. Encouraging community-based conflict early warning systems can help prevent clashes before they escalate”, he emphasised.For Mrs. Stella Ugwu, a farmer, having a ministry dedicated to the development of the livestock industry can help in diversifying income sources for both farmers and herders and in turn reduce dependence on land.
”For instance, promoting agro-pastoralism can provide farmers with livestock and herders with agricultural produce”, she explained, adding that providing incentives for adopting sustainable practices, such as subsidies for fodder production or crop insurance, can ease economic pressures. Ugwu was however of the opinion that the creation of a new ministry to handle livestock affairs was uncalled for, since the job can effectively be done by the Technical and Service Department of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and food security and its equivalent on the states level.In some countries, the establishment of a Livestock Ministry or similar bodies has shown promising results. For example, Ethiopia’s Ministry of Agriculture includes a dedicated department for livestock which has successfully implemented programmes to improve pastoral livelihoods and reduce conflicts.
In Kenya, the establishment of the National Drought Management Authority has helped manage resources better, thus reducing clashes between herders and farmers during dry seasons.The president of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Othman Ngelzarma, sees the Ministry of Livestock Development achieving the same feat for Nigeria in the near future. He told newsmen that, “MACBAN expresses its deepest appreciation to the Federal Government for creating a ministry of livestock to unlock the trillion-naira livestock economy and create qualitative and productive jobs across the value chain to improve the Nigerian economy. With this development, MACBAN believes the hope of the Nigerian pastoralists is now achieved under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
However, the Middle Belt Forum took a different view of the proposed Ministry of Livestock Development, saying it was not enough to sustainably resolve the decades-long farmers-herders crisis in the country. According to the National President of the association, Mr. Bitrus Pogu, what is needed to end the perennial farmers/herders clashes is a deliberate action by regulatory bodies and the government to stop criminal elements from carrying out deadly attacks on innocent Nigerians, mainly farmers. Hear him: “If the reason for creating the Ministry is to stop clashes, I think it is wrong because all of these attacks and killings that are happening have nothing to do with conflicts between farmers and herders. “Farmers have never connived at any given time to go and attack herders, but rather, criminals who happen to be Fulani gang up and attack farmers, kill, maim and chase them out of their ancestral homes.
“Then, the Fulani will come and occupy them. So, it is more about invasion, criminality, and terrorism. And the majority of those they hire to do these evils are not even those who have cattle. So, a deliberate action has to be taken by the government against the perpetrators, which will address the criminality.” Mr. Pogu suggested that the government should adopt ranching for productivity and enduring peace between the pastoralists and farmers in particular and the entire country in general.While the establishment of a Livestock Ministry presents a viable solution, it is not without challenges. Funding constraints, bureaucratic inefficiencies, and corruption can hamper its effectiveness. Additionally, deeply ingrained cultural practices and mistrust between farmers and herders can be difficult to overcome.
Critics argue that without a holistic approach that includes land reform, climate change adaptation, and broader economic development, a Livestock Ministry alone may not be sufficient. Therefore, it must work in tandem with other governmental and non-governmental bodies to ensure comprehensive solutions. “A dedicated Livestock Ministry, with its focus on sustainable resource management, conflict resolution, and economic incentives, offers a promising avenue to address the root causes of these clashes. However, its success depends on effective implementation, adequate funding, and the cooperation of all stakeholders involved. With the right strategies and commitment, devoid of any political or selfish interest, it can play a crucial role in fostering peace and prosperity in affected regions”, they advised.
Calista Ezeaku