Pro-democracy group, the Democratic Socialist Movement (DSM) has expressed support for the nationwide strike declared by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria over the anti-labour policies and state-sponsored act of terror of the Imo State government led by Governor Hope Uzodimma.
DSM said it supported the position of NLC, describing it as a welcome development especially given the studious effort of the capitalist regime to discredit the action.
This was contained in a statement signed by Peluola Adewale, DSM Organising Secretary, while urging Nigerian workers to reject the attempt by the President Bola Tinubu-led capitalist administration and its hirelings to discredit the strike by painting it as a “personal matter” or a “ego tripping move” by the NLC President, Joe Ajaero.
The statement reads; "The Democratic Socialist Movement (DSM) wholeheartedly welcomes the decision of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to escalate a strike they called last week over the anti-labour policies and state-sponsored act of terror of the Imo State government led by Governor Hope Uzodinma into a full-scale nationwide general strike starting on Tuesday 14 November 2023 in defiance of a fraudulent order of the National Industrial Court.
"According to a statement by leadership of the NLC and TUC, the escalation became inevitable due to the continuous refusal of the Imo State Government and the Federal government to reverse the series of anti-worker policies and actions including the brutalization of the NLC president in a state sponsored act of terror on November 1st, withholding of workers outstanding salary arrears, unjust declaration of 11, 000 workers as ghost workers, non-compliance with N30, 000 minimum wage act and declaration of 10, 000 pensioners as ghost retirees.
"We hereby urge workers, Socialists and activists to support the general strike enthusiastically by downing tools and engaging in agitation and debate online, at workplaces and in the communities to defend the general strike especially given the studious effort of the capitalist regime to discredit the action.
"We call for the setting up of democratic action committees at workplaces to begin to enforce the strike and ensure more active participation and compliance. Evidence from the first day of the strike show that compliance was scanty obviously due to poor preparation. We also argue that the strike should not be a sit-at-home action. Rather, public activities like mass meetings, protests and demonstrations should be organized, both to strengthen the strike and mobilise wider support.
"We also call on Labour to consider provision of emergency and skeletal services in hospitals and essential public services like electricity and water supply while the strike lasts in order to attract sustained public support.
"We urge Nigerian workers to reject the attempt by the Tinubu capitalist administration and its hirelings to discredit the strike by painting it as a “personal matter” or a “ego tripping move” by the NLC President, Joe Ajaero. What is at stake in this strike goes beyond the person of Joe Ajaero – it is the dignity and integrity of the workers movement that is at stake.
"As we said in a previous statement (http://www.socialistnigeria.org/6863/2023/11/08/dsm-supports-nlc-and-tuc-over-demands-of-imo-workers-and-criminal-assault-of-nlc-president/?doing_wp_cron=1699999513.6840829849243164062500), the November 1st brutal attack on Joe Ajaero by thugs linked to the Imo State government was a message sent on behalf of the capitalist state to the entirety of the workers movement that no one is beyond repression. Up till now, none of the perpetrators has been arrested.
"We are therefore not surprised that the statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, only stops short at publicly endorsing the brutalization of Joe Ajaero.
"In our opinion, the fact that a spokesperson of the Tinubu regime could issue such a statement in reaction to the brutalization of Comrade Joe Ajaero should serve as a wake-up call to the leadership of the NLC and TUC.”