Following the arrest of top aide of the Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for the diversion of the bailout funds to the state, the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) yesterday took a swipe at the governor, accusing him of lack of sincerity in the handling of the funds, thereby causing workers in the state untold hardship.

The EFCC had last week arrested the Principal Secretary to the governor, Dr Pascal Obi over allegation of diverting about N2 billion collected by the state from the federal government as part of bailout funds for states.

But according to the NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, “the arrest of Governor Rochas Okorocha’s top aides by the EFCC for allegedly diverting part of the N2billion bailout funds meant for Imo State did not come as a surprise to us at the NLC.

“The lack of transparency in the handling of the funds wherein stakeholders for whom the funds were meant were kept in the dark as to the availability of the funds in the first place flew the red flag for us.

“Curiously rather than apply the funds to cushion the hardship months of salary arrears indebtedness had caused workers, the Imo Governor chose instead to summarily shut down government establishments and force workers out with backlog of unpaid salaries.

“We were not fooled by the governor’s claim of lack of funds to pay salaries as he clearly could not show where he had channelled the Bailout funds. Thus, our shutting down Imo State over two weeks ago through mass protests and strike action by workers has been vindicated,” the NLC president stressed.

Wabba explained: It is pertinent to point out here that most of our state and local governments have not keyed into the president’s passion, to change the way public funds are cornered as personal resources of the executives in power. This watery appetite for quickly channeling allocation from the centre, including loans, into personal accounts of the executives and their aides and cronies must be focused upon by the anti-graft agencies.

“We call on ICPC and EFCC to monitor the disbursement of the Bailout funds across the states. We further challenge the state governments in the spirit of the President’s gesture to publish how they have disbursed the funds.

“The alleged looting of public funds by the Imo State Government must be discouraged. The crave for looting of state resources by a few privileged persons in government while turning around to unleash wickedness on innocent and harpless workers through owing of salaries and crude redundancy disengagements will no more be left unchallenged.

“We recommit ourselves to eternal vigilance and never again will workers be sacrificed to oil the watery appetite for stealing by chief executives of states and government agencies,” he observed.

http://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2016/03/07/bailout-funds-nlc-confronts-okorocha-over-arrest-of-top-aide/

K

Why are Nigerian politicians so selfish like this. They're just after their pockets and families.

This same issue is happening in osun state

Thisday and Vanguard correspondents and NLC chairman Imo State are tribalists who think Mbaise can produce a Governor by using falsehood to incite the people against Okorocha. I've always written that Okorocha is too kind for my liking. He is now in a ruling party and from the majority oil producing and by far richest part of the State. He can use the media to equally incite his brothers against Mbaise and kill the little image left.

Abagworo:
Thisday and Vanguard correspondents and NLC chairman Imo State are tribalists who think Mbaise can produce a Governor by using falsehood to incite the people against Okorocha. I've always written that Okorocha is too kind for my liking. He is now in a ruling party and from the majority oil producing and by far richest part of the State. He can use the media to equally incite his brothers against Mbaise and kill the little image left.

You are a shameless old man.. Did EFCC arrested his aids or not? Did the divert the bailout funds or not? Nawa for you ooo..

worst of all governors

smh

Never bothered about the masses..bothered about fattening his account..

Abagworo:
Thisday and Vanguard correspondents and NLC chairman Imo State are tribalists who think Mbaise can produce a Governor by using falsehood to incite the people against Okorocha. I've always written that Okorocha is too kind for my liking. He is now in a ruling party and from the majority oil producing and by far richest part of the State. He can use the media to equally incite his brothers against Mbaise and kill the little image left.

Are you not ashamed of yourself for blaming everybody except your thieving governor Rochas for the mass mess in Imo state.

Abagworo:
Thisday and Vanguard correspondents and NLC chairman Imo State are tribalists who think Mbaise can produce a Governor by using falsehood to incite the people against Okorocha. I've always written that Okorocha is too kind for my liking. He is now in a ruling party and from the majority oil producing and by far richest part of the State. He can use the media to equally incite his brothers against Mbaise and kill the little image left.

Abagworo please I am begging you in the name of whatever you worship to please pleaase and please stop this madness and face your woes biko.

[s]

Abagworo:
Thisday and Vanguard correspondents and NLC chairman Imo State are tribalists who think Mbaise can produce a Governor by using falsehood to incite the people against Okorocha. I've always written that Okorocha is too kind for my liking. He is now in a ruling party and from the majority oil producing and by far richest part of the State. He can use the media to equally incite his brothers against Mbaise and kill the little image left.

[/s] how does this ur emotional banter corollate with what is in the news?. I always know how u do call out ma' Gov Udom.

Buhari is a tyrant I swear!!! If I don't get some likes from some people then it's pure hypocrisy

It's never good news with this guy.

LoveMachine:
It's never good news with this guy.

I tire

We await Gov Okorocha's response. He should give a detailed account on how he spent the Bailout fund. That said, Imo State have not been fortunate with the type of persons elected into the leadership of the state, Gov Okorocha inclusive.

lalasticlala, we are waiting