IGU to FG: Constitute PenCom board now
……Commends EFCC for a good job
The Industrial Global Union has called on the Federal Government to urgently reconstitute the board of National Pension Commission (PenCom) to safeguard pension assets in the country.
Comrade Issa Aremu, General Secretary NUTGTWN and Vice President, Industrial Global Union made this remarks at the Industrialization Day Policy dialogue, organized by Industrial Global Union, Nigeria council in conjunction with Fredrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) on Friday at the Shehu Musa Yar’adua Center in Abuja.
He said: “The Federal government must quickly reconstitute the board of National Pension commission with a view of safeguarding the pension assets. Also the acting executive of Pencom must wake up to its responsibilities to engage stakeholders through more openness and accountability.”
Aremu also commended what he described as the good job of the Economic and financial Crime Commission (EFCC) under Ibrahim Magu saying EFCC is the most effective government agency today.
“We commend the good jobs of the EFCC under Ibrahim Magu. Between January 1 and August 30, 2017 the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had reportedly recovered about N409 billion and $69.5 million, totaling N430 billion among other foreign currencies as proceeds of corruption.
This recovered loot is more than the state’s budget of Niger, Abia, Enugu, Imo, and half of Lagos state’s budget of N813billion and Rivers state of N470billion.
“While South Africans decry state capture by Gupta families, the challenge Nigerians face is Republic capture by some corrupt leaders. Corruption has certainly killed most African countries, it’s time we joined forces to exorcise it.
“EFCC undoubtedly is the most effective government agency in the country today and must be supported by all institutions including organized labor, because monies stolen would not be made available for paying minimum and living wages as well as pensions as pension and wages thieves in both public and private sectors are still around the corners”, he added.
In his earlier remarks, Mr. Jean B. Bakole, United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and regional Director of the West African Hub, said that his organization has consistently supported African countries to celebrate the African Industrial Day (AID) every year since 1990.
“The Theme of this year’s AID celebration is therefore apt and interesting in my view; this is because industrial development is duly recognized as a pre-condition for an effective and sustainable continental free trade area in Africa; adding that, industrialization is seen as the fulcrum of Africa’s sustainable economic development”.
However, he stated that sustainable economic development and poverty eradication in Africa remain a mirage if industrialization is not accorded its due place”.
The AID celebrated annually in November in collaboration with the Federal Government, the organized private sector, the IGU and UNIDO is expected to have the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo in attendance.
Tom Okpe, Abuja
