The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has sent a commendation letter to President Muhammadu Buhari on the Financial Regulation Reforms carried out by his administration and for signing the N30,000 Minimum Wage Bill to law.
In the latter dated 20th, May 2019, a copy of which was emailed to The State Online on Monday, May 27, 2019, NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba stated that : “I write to specially commend Mr. President for the recent feats achieved with and through the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU). We also wish to seize this opportunity to commend Your Excellency for assenting to the national minimum wage (Amendment) Act 2019.
“Concerning the NFIU, we are really impressed and excited by the achievements of your administration in terms of financial regulations reform. First, your government pursued the institutionalization of the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit by an Act of the National Assembly in 2018 thus fully excising the NFIU from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and thereby satisfying international financial standards and saving Nigeria from international isolation with its attendant consequences on our economy by Egmont Group – the global body that oversees and coordinates global financial transactions.
“As a result of your interest and insistence on the institutionalization of financial surveillance system in Nigeria, the country has not only been accorded its deserved place in the good books of Egmont but also acquired a new impetus in your famed fight against official corruption.
“The NFIU’s recent financial regulations moderating the management of the States Local Governments Joint accounts, therefore, did not come to us as a surprise. For us in the labour movement, it is a further confirmation of Your Excellency’s avowed stance against graft and injustice. We believe that the new NFIU’s regulations, though insufficient by themselves, will go a long way in addressing the mindless mismanagement of local government funds by many state governors. The mismanagement of local council funds by many state governors has stalled development at the grassroots, impoverished workers at the local level and aggravated the crises of insecurity in our country.
“Mr. President may recall that the Nigeria Labour Congress and its affiliates particularly the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) and the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) have been in the fore front of the campaign for local government reform. Our idea on local government reform is the granting of full autonomy and complete democratization of the third tier of government in Nigeria to function as intended by Section 7,8, 162 and the Fourth Schedule of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.
“We hope that the current NFIU’s financial regulations on the operation of local government account is only the first of several steps that would be directed at liberating the local government system to deliver on its mandate of inclusive governance and grassroots development.”
The letter is reproduced below:
20th May 2019
His Excellency
President Muhammadu Buhari
President and Commander-in-Chief of
The Armed Forces
Federal Republic of Nigeria
Aso Rock Villa – Abuja.
COMMENDATION FOR THE NFIU’S NEW FINANCIAL REGULATIONS ON THE MANAGEMENT OF STATES LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTS
We bring you warm greetings from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
I write to specially commend Mr. President for the recent feats achieved with and through the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU). We also wish to seize this opportunity to commend Your Excellency for assenting to the national minimum wage (Amendment) Act 2019.
Concerning the NFIU, we are really impressed and excited by the achievements of your administration in terms of financial regulations reform. First, your government pursued the institutionalization of the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit by an Act of the National Assembly in 2018 thus fully excising the NFIU from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and thereby satisfying international financial standards and saving Nigeria from international isolation with its attendant consequences on our economy by Egmont Group – the global body that oversees and coordinates global financial transactions.
As a result of your interest and insistence on the institutionalization of financial surveillance system in Nigeria, the country has not only been accorded its deserved place in the good books of Egmont but also acquired a new impetus in your famed fight against official corruption.
The NFIU’s recent financial regulations moderating the management of the States Local Governments Joint accounts, therefore, did not come to us as a surprise. For us in the labour movement, it is a further confirmation of Your Excellency’s avowed stance against graft and injustice. We believe that the new NFIU’s regulations, though insufficient by themselves, will go a long way in addressing the mindless mismanagement of local government funds by many state governors. The mismanagement of local council funds by many state governors has stalled development at the grassroots, impoverished workers at the local level and aggravated the crises of insecurity in our country.
Mr. President may recall that the Nigeria Labour Congress and its affiliates particularly the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) and the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) have been in the fore front of the campaign for local government reform. Our idea on local government reform is the granting of full autonomy and complete democratization of the third tier of government in Nigeria to function as intended by Section 7,8, 162 and the Fourth Schedule of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.
We hope that the current NFIU’s financial regulations on the operation of local government account is only the first of several steps that would be directed at liberating the local government system to deliver on its mandate of inclusive governance and grassroots development.
Please accept the renewed assurances of our highest esteem.
Comrade Ayuba Wabba, mni
President