Latest Headlines
Why Governors Mismanaged FG Bailouts, Say NLC, AAEUN
Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Agriculture and Allied Employers’ Association of Nigeria (AAEUN), have accused the Nigerian Governors of failing to spend the bailouts given by the federal government to pay salary of workers for selfish motives.
The bodies accused the governors of diverting both the bailouts and Paris club funds to capital projects for them to be able to amass wealth at the expense of the Nigerian workers.
They said this in Ado Ekiti, yesterday during the AAEUN election, Ekiti chapter, where new executive were elected to pilot the affairs of the union.
The trio of the NLC Chairman in Ekiti, Com Raymond Adesanmi, the National President of AAEUN, Comrade Simon Anchaver and AAEUN Secretary, Ekiti chapter, Com. Blessing Oladele, believed that the monies could have been invested in agriculture and payment of workers’ salaries, rather than the selfish motives most pursued by many of the State Chief executives.
The new executive members are: Coms Ojo Ayodeji (Chairman); Owolabi Lawrence (Vice Chairman); Olaotan Michael (Treasurer); Tolulade Folakemi (Women Coordinator), Olayode Folake (Welfare Officer). Others include: Coms Awi Lucas (Trustee), Sunday Aribisala (Ex-Officio), Omopariola Esther (Auditor), and Sanni Lukman (Ex-Officio).
The NLC Chairman in Ekiti, Adesanmi, who charged the new Exco to chart a new course for agriculture in Ekiti said: “Some of these governors believed that they can only benefit when they invest in infrastructure, so more than 70 per cent of the monies provided were diverted to that sector despite warnings from the FG”.
Adesanmi pleaded with Governor Ayodele Fayose to implement the outcome of the Agric Summit organised by Ekiti in 2016.
Lending his voice to how the funds were allegedly mismanaged, Anchaver said: “It is pertinent to note that State governors prefer to use the bailout funds on capital projects at the detriment of workers. This is unacceptable and it is inimical to the economic growth”.
The AAEUN Secretary, Oladele said time has come for the government of Ekiti and Nigeria at large to invest heavily in farming, for the country to attain food security status.
“Food security is key to a developing economy. When a country, that is a developing economy like Nigeria, assumes food security status, to achieve national security and stability will be easier.
“Nigeria can’t afford to neglect a pivotal sector like agriculture. The new Exco will come up with an agriculture roadmap that will be of tremendous benefit to Ekiti if implemented”, he said.
