TUC warns Buhari, governors ahead of 2017

- Many Nigerians have maintained that 2016 is a year they can never forget because of the hardship it brought on the people

- As the country enters into 2017, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) says President Buhari and the governors must now put their acts right

The impunity with which the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration as well as those of the governors carried on in 2016 may not be tolerated by Nigerians in 2017.

This declaration was made by the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in its New Year message to Nigerians and made available to NAIJ.com.

Bobboi Kaigama released the warning to President Muhammadu Buhari and governors

It said a situation where professionals are thrown out while wives of governors are made to take charge of up to six ministries would no longer be tolerated.

The umbrella body for some workers in Nigeria disclosed in the message that it knew of all the ‘sins’ committed by those in authority in 2016, but that its silence was not because it was weak but because it wanted the Buhari administration to be focused since it had a lot of challenges to grapple with.

In the message titled: ‘We have never had it this tough’, the TUC president, Bobboi Kaigama, and Comrade (Barr) Musa-Lawal M Ozigi, its secretary-general, the body praised Nigerians for their resilience and loyalty to the course of the nation.

“When you critically evaluate our activities you would agree with us that we had more industrial disputes in 2015 than last year. That is not to say there were no issues; our silence was rather deliberate and we had expected the new government to take the opportunity to settle down and hit the ground running.

“The truth is our economic and infrastructural challenges are so serious that they require every concentration to handle. This administration has really enjoyed the co-operation of Nigerians,” the TUC said.

Taking a look at the health and education sectors, the body said the government failed to honour agreements it voluntarily entered into with the unions.

“The public servants are still being owed and even when money was disbursed by the federal government the state governors diverted it.

“Technocrats are now undermined while wives of some governors now manage four, five and six ministries. This is unconstitutional.

“Additionally, there was unprecedented termination of appointment of workers without engaging the unions. Anti-labour practices were the order of the day yet, we did not draw out our sword because we do not want to be seen as enemies of the new government,” it said adding that for its patriotism, it was labeled as weak and its members cowards.

“But there is no problem about that. Now, what we expect from government at all levels is to put its acts together to avoid industrial crisis this year (2017),” it said.