SaharaReporters reported that the organised labour declared an indefinite strike scheduled to begin on Tuesday, October 3, 2023.
The Democratic Socialist Movement (DSM) has declared support for the indefinite nationwide strike declared by organised labour against the deepening economic hardship caused by the anti-poor capitalist policies of President Bola Tinubu-led federal government.
SaharaReporters reported that the organised labour declared an indefinite strike scheduled to begin on Tuesday, October 3, 2023.
However, DSM in a statement issued on Saturday by its Organising Secretary, Peluola Adewale, commended the Nigerian Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress for their resolve to unite and prosecute the strike to pressurise the federal government to reverse the anti-people policies which had pushed Nigerians into extreme poverty.
While calling on workers, youth, and masses to support organised labour in this quest, the group said active participation in the strike action would increase the degree of pressure that will be mounted on the government.
"Unlike the 2-day warning strike held on September 5 and 6 by the NLC which was just a stay-at-home action, we urge the labour centres to combine this general strike with a nationwide mass protest. ...It is also important for the NLC and TUC to immediately begin adequate mobilisation and preparation for the strike.
"We call on the Labour to initiate meetings with pro-masses organisations to discuss the mobilisation and preparation including the formation of strike action committees in communities, workplaces, and campuses. ...We are not opposed to an indefinite general strike but believe that, right now, a three-day stoppage would be a mighty warning to the government and a step towards further struggles.
"We do not want a repeat of past situations where ‘indefinite’ general strikes have been called but then ended in a day or two. Besides, the struggle against the economic crises will be protracted. This is because even if the government is forced to grant some palliatives, it cannot significantly mitigate the economic hardship faced by the vast majority of the working masses as a result of the prevailing neo-liberal capitalist policies," the group said.
"So, we call for a 72-hour strike as the next step after which there should be a democratic evaluation of the action and agreement involving the mass of workers and pro-masses organisations on the next line of actions. Likewise, any deal with the federal government cannot be agreed in the middle of the night by a few leaders, any proposed deal must be put out to democratic debate and decision-making before being formally signed."
The group, however, welcomed the labour party for the strike adding that a genuine workers party cannot merely serve as an electoral vehicle. "It must be involved in the day-to-day struggle of the working people to fight back against anti-poor policies. Unfortunately, should the Tinubu government be kicked out today, there is no guarantee that a Labour Party government will rule better.
"For instance, LP presidential candidate in the last election, Peter Obi, campaigned on a ticket of petrol subsidy removal and devaluation of the naira just as the present government did. Therefore, we urge the NLC and TUC as well as left and pro-masses organisations to also begin to rebuild the LP as a genuine, democratically run, mass workers party with socialist programmes."
The group stated that the joint communique NLC and TUC issued on September 26, 2023, wasn't clear and concrete about the demands upon which the strike is called. It is not enough to say that: “the federal government has therefore not met in any substantial way, the demands of Nigerian workers and peoples as previously canvassed in our mutually agreed roadmap to salvaging the economy and protecting workers and Nigerians from the monumental hardship.”
"In any case, we strongly hold that any “mutually agreed roadmap” that does not include an end to the capitalist neo-liberal policies such as deregulation, devaluation, etc. cannot salvage the economy nor protect “workers and Nigerians from the monumental hardship”.
"Since its inauguration on May 29 the Tinubu government has twice increased the price of petrol – first from N195 to N488 and later to N570, using the NNPC prices in Lagos and Southwest Nigeria; they are higher in other parts of the country. Yet, the NLC and TUC have refused to fight for the reversal of the obnoxious hikes," the group opined.
It further added, "We call on the NLC and TUC to come out clearly in a statement or document and list the demands that constitute the “remedial action” so that workers and the masses would know what they are fighting for. However, from what could be gleaned from media reports the demands of the NLC and TUC include wage awards, tax exemption for some categories of workers provision of Compressed Natural Gas buses, and release of modalities for the payment of N70 billion to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).
"We welcome these demands but note that the vast majority of working people will not directly benefit from them even if implemented. This is why clear calls for the reversal of hikes in petrol prices and school fees in public universities as well as adequate funding of public education and healthcare must be also included in the demands of the strike."