The recent protest, led by a union leader from Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Employees (AUPCTRE), FCT Chapter, Aliyu Maradun, at the FCT Water Board, is not only mind boggling, but shocking.
The truth is everyone has a sense of justice and even the layman in the street has a sense of justice. But, sadly, the union has endlessly thrown caution to the wind by blackmailing the FCT Water Board management.
For the umpteenth time, it will be right to tell them and their cohorts that in legal tradition, when a matter is in a court of competent jurisdiction, even a legal luminary does not delve into such matter, comment or write an opinion piece, or otherwise on such a case unless to caution against prejudicing the public and the entire judicial process.
The path these union leaders are threading shows clearly that they are circumventing justice and acting like illiterates. At this point, it is pertinent to urge concerned authorities and the general public to be wary of some mischievous characters with their campaign of calumny against the FCT Water Board management, aimed at creating disaffection in the system.
It is so sad that these characters keep jumping into conclusion without waiting for the court, which is currently handling the case, but chose to engage in unprofessional union practices that are dragging Nigeria back to the Dark Age.
Presently, the FCT Water Board is the most efficient and effective government agency in Abuja. Every household connected to the water supply can testify to having uninterrupted water supply because of Aliyu Nahuche the FCT Water Board General Manager’s good managerial skills and dedication to service.
The FCT Water Board, under the leadership of Nahuche, has been lauded for its high degree of professionalism and discipline in spite of poor funding. His strive for excellence has further demonstrated his commitment to meeting international standards.
With an unalloyed drive, he restored water supply to Asokoro extension, which was out of supply for more than six years and introduced mobile app for meter reading at site to enable the meter readers enough opportunities to read the meter and thereafter send it to the server at billing unit.
The general manager fenced FCT Water Board properties including distribution tanks, bolster stations and many others to ensure security. He introduced the sluice valve Karu/Nyanya line at Dantata bolster station for improved strategy for effective isolation of valves to improve supply and introduced non-revenue water programme in the storage tanks and the distribution network through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Nahuche led the team of engineers that repaired the bottom outlet of Lower Usuma Dam, which had been faulty since 1996, and reintroduced pre-chlorination in the water treatment process, which was abandoned for years.
He created NiBox Cash Terminal, deployed at the Customer Care Unit and Area offices for the collection of customers’ payments. This has reduced the difficulty faced by customers and improved transparency of the board.
It is so sad that one the union leader who recently earned himself the title of “fifth columnist” after he published frivolous claims with his name in a national daily, is still masquerading as a human crusader, who in fact cares more about himself than anyone.
No wonder during the recent protest the branch union excused itself from participation and, in fact, protested against the parent body of the union which engaged union leaders from other organisations that are totally ignorant of the real issue, to picket the water board.
It will be wise for them at this point to desist from making unguarded and unverifiable insinuations against the Nahuche-led FCT Water Board. It is glaring that these union leaders parade themselves as human rights campaigners or religion leaders yet allowed themselves to be used by some board members to disparage decency and transparency in the services of the FCT Water Board. It will only be wise if these leaders can verify their claims instead of making unfounded allegations.
Nahuce’s choice to distinguish himself by providing excellent leadership became repulsive and repugnant to some few persons who are used to failure and personal aggrandisement of the resources meant for the good and well-being of the citizens, and in this case, residents of the Federal Capital Territory.
Despite the remarkable turnaround of the fortunes of FCT Water Board which is evident to all eyes, and as lawyers will say; “res ipsa liquitor” (the thing speaks for itself), these self-styled antagonists are hell-bent on making sure that the general manager vacates his seat, exit the board and be slandered for sins he did not commit and knows nothing about.
In fact, for imaginary sins that exist only in their vain imaginations and minds; just because of applauds he receives for delivering excellent services, thriving, where others have failed, and also being a stumbling block to their ill-conceived plans to corruptly enrich themselves for the purpose of funding his union presidential ambition. Accordingly, the maxim who comes to equity must come with clean hands applies.
The self-acclaimed union leader, who is currently under investigation by one of the country’s leading anti-corruption agencies on separate embezzlement cases as an employee of FCT Water Board, has no moral right to accuse the general manager of any malfeasance.
We sincerely advise such persons not to allow themselves be used in running down a genuine cause, but should rather join hands in effecting positive turnaround of the fortunes of FCT Water Board; as a large part of its employees and residents of the FCT continue to appreciate the excellent services they are receiving from the Water Board.
Marafa is a public affairs analyst based in Abuja
