Nigeria: Impending nationwide strikes and protests

JOINT Action Forum (JAF), umbrella body for civil societies that formed the Labour and Civil Society Coalition (LASCO), has called on Nigerians to fully participate in next week's planned strike to force the government to revert the hike in fuel price and the Value Added Tax (VAT), amongst others, even as it charged Labour leaders not to disappoint Nigerians during the struggles ahead.
The strike, expected to commence Tuesday June 19, is also targeted at putting pressure on government to reverse the sales of Port Harcourt and Kaduna Refineries, Egbin Power Plant, and other national monuments, immediate implementation of the 15% salaries increases to workers at all levels, immediate payment of arrears of monetisation benefits, immediate halt to the retrenchment of workers and reform in the public sector.
JAF, in a statement by its President and General Secretary, Dr. Dipo Fashina and Comrade Abiodun Aremu, respectively, noted that leadership of JAF met with Labour to review the the May 28 and 29 sit-at-home and mass protests against the conduct and outcome of the April general elections and pointed out that the actions were declared as part of the dress rehearsals not only to express the disapproval and opposition of Nigerians on the illegitimacy of governments arising out of the April 2007 elections, but to rally Nigerians towards a culture of sustained resistance against all forms of political and economic injustices.
The statement read in part: “The leadership of the Joint Action Forum, led by its President, Dr. Dipo Fashina, on Thursday, June 7, 2007 at Abuja, met with the leadership of the two Labour centres – Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) under the platform of Labour and Civil Society Coalition (LASCO). Central to the meeting which were: review of the sit-at-home and mass protests declared by LASCO for May 28 and 29; and resolutions by the principal organs of Labour with respect to the latest wicked and anti-people increases in the prices of the fuel and VAT and the illegal sales of the refineries and other national assets. With respect to the first issue, JAF states that the 2-day actions successfully held despite the disinformation and blackmail by government, the threats, harassment, arrests and, subsequently, the detention by the Police and security agents of some of the LASCO activists, most especially at the mass rallies and protests in Lagos , Benni, Osogbo, Owerri, Jos, Onitsha and Abuja.
The May 28 and 29 sit-at-home and mass protests were declared as part of the dress rehearsals not only to express the disapproval and opposition of Nigerians on the illegitimacy of governments arising out of the April 2007 Electoral Robbery, but to rally Nigerians towards a culture of sustained resistance against all forms of political and economic injustices.” Only choice for Yar’Adua “JAF fully endorsed the positions of NLC and TUC on the two weeks ultimatum given to the Yar’Adua government that is still grappling with problems of legitimacy to reverse the anti-people, anti-Labour and unconstitutional economic policies that were executed through administrative fiat in the last 96 hours of the exit of the ignoble dictatorial regime of General Obasanjo. The demands are clear: Reversal in the increases of fuel prices – Petrol from N75 to N65 and Diesel and Kerosene to the prices before the hike.
Reversal of the 100% increase in VAT which was increased from 5% to 10%. Reversal of the sales of Port Harcourt and Kaduna Refineries, Egbin Power Plant, and other national monuments. Immediate implementation of the 15% salaries increases to workers at all levels. Immediate payment of arrears of monetisation benefits. Immediate halt to the retrenchment of workers and reform in the public sector. JAF wishes to affirm its confidence in the leadership of Labour to prosecute the above demands to its logical conclusions.” The statement added: “Alhaji Umar Yar’Adua's illegitimate government is advised to rid itself of the afflictions of the Obasanjo's dictatorship by acceding to the legitimate demands made by Labour. Doing so will be consistent with Section 16 of the 1999 Constitution which states the economic objectives of Government in 16(2) that “the State shall direct its policy towards ensuring that - (16(2) (c) economic system is not operated in such manner as to permit the concentration of wealth; or means of production; and exchange in the hands of few individuals or of a group. Section 16 (2)(d) suitable and adequate shelter, suitable and adequate food, reasonable national minimum living wage, old age care and pension, unemployment benefits, sick benefits and welfare of the disable”.
Equally, JAF enjoins Nigerians to support the strike and mass actions that Labour and civil society, under the platform of LASCO, may be compelled to declare if, after the expiration of the 2-weeks ultimatum which expires on June 18, the illegitimate government of Yar’Adua failed to reverse the anti-people policies that are aggravating untold hardships on Nigerians. JAF also strongly restates its confidence in the leadership of LASCO comprising Abdulwaheed Omar, (President NLC), Peter Esele (President TUC) and Dr. Dipo Fashina (President JAF).”