The Campaign for Democratic and Workers’ Rights (CDWR), Osun State hereby calls on the Babatunde Fashola/AC government of Lagos State to immediately recall Comrade Ayodele Akele, a former labour leader in Lagos State, in the spirit of the celebration of the life of Chief Gani Fawehinmi. If Lagos State government does not want the public to believe that it is playing to gallery, it should immediately recall Comrade Ayodele Akele.
Comrade Akele, the former chairman of Congress of Industrial Unions (COIU) was sacked since 2001 by the government of Bola Tinubu for leading tens of thousands of workers in struggle for the implementation of N7, 500 minimum wage. Comrade Akele was sacked along with thousands of other workers but till date has not been recalled. It is on record that Nigerian workers are one of the poorest paid in the world, therefore the struggles of workers led by Akele should naturally be commended by a state government and party that claim to be progressive.
But unfortunately, Lagos State government has refused to fully implement a living wage for workers as enshrined in the 1999 constitution. In Lagos today, public school teachers are on strike as a result of the failure of the Fashola/AC government to pay the meagre 27.5 percent salary increase as contained in the Teachers’ Salary Scale (TSS). Furthermore, workers including lecturers in the state owned university are currently on national strikes as a result of governments’ (federal and state) under funding of education. Till date, Lagos State government has not given any commitment to the demands of workers and in fact supported the federal government’s treacherous excuse of federalism to deny university workers their entitlement and education its dues in terms of proper funding. In virtually all tertiary institution in Lagos State, students are made to cough out pocket-tearing fees. How will this government that claim to be progressive and even played a role in the celebration of the pro-worker Gani Fawehinmi, justify this anti-worker, retrogressive actions with the campaign for a quality and free education by Chief Gani Fawehinmi?
To add insult upon injury, workers’ leaders like Akele are currently being victimized and vilified. All this reflects the anti-worker, reactionary character of the state government despite all the propaganda, face-lifting and merry-making to associate with a genuine fighter like Chief Gani Fawehinmi. If Fashola/AC government is sincere about its celebration of Chief Gani Fawehinmi’s life, it should commit itself to the ideals of Gani Fawehinmi, which include abhorrence of oppression and attack on workers, free and quality education and well remunerated workforce, it should immediately recall Comrade Ayodele Akele and pay him his entitlement so far. Furthermore, it should immediately implement the TSS, accede to the demands of striking university workers and stop the witch-hunting of workers and students being carried out on behalf of the Lagos State government by the Lateef Hussein-led Lagos State University (LASU) management.
Finally, we call on workers’ unions in the state and the country to defend workers rights of association and unionization which is being carried out by the Lagos State government against activists like Comrade Akele. This is necessary if workers are to secure gains in their struggle for better living. The recent attack on leadership of medical doctors’ association by the Fashola/AC government shows the anti-worker character of the state government. If workers do not defend the rights of their victimized colleagues and leaders, it will further embolden government to carry out more attacks on workers, their leaders and unions. The labour leaders in Lagos and the country should not feel that they can be immune from such attacks.
We will not end this statement without reiterating our support for the striking university workers under ASUU, SSANU, NASU and NAAT in their current struggle to force all anti-workers and retrogressive governments in the country to commit public resources to public education. We call on all well-meaning Nigerians, to use this period of celebration of the radical life of the enigmatic Chief Gani Fawehinmi, to give support to the striking workers as a way of achieving the dream of Gani Fawehinmi for free and quality education at all levels.
Comrade Waheed Lawal Kola Ibrahim
Chairman
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