Critic chides labour unions for keeping mute over arrests, detention

A social critic, Mr Joseph Boko, has condemned the organised labour for not speaking out in support of efforts by the government to rid the judiciary of corruption.

Boko told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Makurdi that the silence of the labour unions over the arrest and detention of some judges was undignified.

“Organised labour are always in the forefront of agitations for salary increment and are unrelenting in their fight against increases in petrol pump prices, so, why are they keeping mute now.

“Their silence could only mean that their actions are self-serving and not in the interest of the nation.

“If not, why are they not mobilizing the workforce against corruption and impunity in the judiciary,’’ the social critic said.

He, therefore, called on the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress to “stand up’’ in support of President Muhammadu Buhari in his quest to rid the country of corruption.

He said corruption was a major obstacle to development in the country and appealed to all Nigerians to support Buhari’s efforts in purging all sectors of the society of corruption.

Boko also blamed the “fast-eroding’’ respect for the courts on corruption and assured that the clean-up in the sector would restore the dignity of the bench.