The groups frowned on the killing of protesters in some states, saying the violence experienced in some places were “largely instigated and provoked by members of the capitalist ruling class.
Civil society organisations in Oyo state have knocked President Bola Tinubu’s government over the handling of the #EndBadGovernance protests including the killing of unarmed protesters.
This was communicated in a statement signed by Prof. Ademola Aremu on behalf of Joint Action Front (JAF), Socialist Labour, All Workers’ Convergence, Centre for Popular Education (CEPED), CSATF, NATA/ITESIWAJU OYO and PAM.
The statement noted that the propaganda of the government against the protests failed to materialise.
“This is a victory for the Nigeria working but suffering people. It has clearly shown that Nigerians are not slaves who would be told to surrender their fundamental and democratic rights to resist anti-poor policies. It has also demonstrated that no elected office holder is greater than the citizens of the country,” the statement read.
The groups frowned on the killing of protesters in some states, saying the violence experienced in some places were “largely instigated and provoked by members of the capitalist ruling class in these states either with the security agencies or hired political thugs to drown the movement in blood like they did during the EndSARS”.
They lambasted President Tinubu for failing to address concerns raised by Nigerians in the protest.
They said, “This to us is another gain of the protest except that none of the demands of the protest was addressed in the president national broadcast.
“As far as we are concerned, the national broadcast is just a mere justification for all of the neo-liberal policies responsible for the huge scale of pain and pangs Nigeria working people are going through at the present time.”
The groups also argued that the projects listed by President Tinubu do not have the capacity to bring any significant relief to the masses.
The statement said, “Aside from this, we note that none of the planned projects enumerated in the national broadcast has the potential to bring any significant relief and respite to the masses of the Nigeria working people.
“All achievements highlighted in the national broadcast failed to individually and collectively translate into any meaningful improvement in the life of the working people across the country.
“This is an indication that President Tinubu-led government will not be willing to accede and attend to any of the demands of our coalition except if it is challenged with struggle which is well drawn, determined and well-coordinated.
“Beyond the current ‘end bad governance protest,’ we require a bigger, broader and disciplined movement of the working people and youths for a better Nigeria.”
They also vowed to work with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the media to form a movement aimed at ensuring that Tinubu’s administration accedes to the demand of the people.
Some of the demands listed are: “Immediate reversal of the pump price of petrol to N197, repositioning of all of the public refineries and end to importation of petroleum products.”
They also demanded an immediate reversal of the recent hike in electricity tariffs including renationalisation of the power sector “under the control and management of the elected representatives of the working people”.
Other demands include placing political office holders on the salary scale and allowances earned by the civil servants, free education at all levels and reversal of current regime of fee hike across public tertiary institutions.
The group also urged the national leadership of the NLC and the TUC to convene a Joint National Executive Committee meeting to declare a 48-hour nationwide strike and street protests to support the #EndBadGovernance protests.