Comrade Peter Esele
Toba Suleiman
The President General of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Peter Esele, has accused civil servants of conniving with politicians to loot the treasure as the expense of the Nigerian masses.
Esele, who made the accusation while addressing members of the union in Ado-Ekiti, during his visit meant to mediate in the crisis rocking the TUC leadership in the state, maintained that looting is always between politicians and the civil servants.
According to him, it was not always possible for politicians alone to loot without the connivance of the civil servants.
While urging workers in the state to always do their jobs conscientiously, devoid of compromise, Esele warned to desist from such act.
The union president, who expressed worry over the crisis that was fast polarising the state union members apart, also accused the leadership of TUC under the former chairman, Comrade Kolawole Olaiya, of lack of accountability.
He said during Olaiya’s tenure, there was no statement of account, nothing to show for all the monies he collected, either from government or elsewhere.
“If you want to correct mistakes in the society, we must be transparent and accountable, and we must not be corrupt.
“It is sad that I asked about the union’s account and they said they have none. How can a union be run without an account? It means there is no checks and balances in the running of the union. With this, it is clear that TUC leaders have been pocketing the money accruing into the union in the state.
“I learnt money came to the union to celebrate last year’s May Day, where is the money? Also, monies are being allocated to the union on monthly basis for the day-day running of its activities, so where are they?” Esele asked.
Esele, who also declared that when he was planning to come to the state, some people were threatening his life, urged him not to dabble into the crisis.
According to him, several text messages were sent to him from Ekiti State warning him against coming to the state for mediation on the leadership crisis. He said unionism should not have been taken to this dangerous dimension, if truly unionism is for service and not for wealth acquisition.
But in a swift reaction, Olaiya said the process of reconciliation being initiated by the union leaders could be subjudice at this stage when the case is pending at the Industrial Court in Akure, Ondo State.
The embattled chairman had immediately after the last year’s election, where Comrade Odunayo Adesoye, leader of the other faction emerged, sued the union leaders for allegedly rigging the election.
While denying that there was no record or accountability under his leadership, Olaiya also accused the national leadership of the TUC of not remitting dues to the state chapter of the union.
Besides, he also denied sending any threat message to the TUC national leader, adding that he was not aware of his visit to the state.