National Issues
A pertinent question for working class activists, one month after the swearing in of President Buhari must be how ready is organized labour to engage with the current administration of the bosses, in the interest of the working class? Related to this is another salient question; what should be the nature of such engagement? Read more>>
People are rightly outraged with the idea that each member of the National Assembly is to receive a ‘wardrobe’ allowance of N9million. This is at a time when most states are not paying all the salaries and pensions that are due to their workers and we are told that austerity measures are necessary. Read more>>
The drama at the inauguration of the 8th National Assembly calls to mind the contradictions that exist within the ruling class globally. The contradictions exist as a result of class interest and counter interest among the ruling class that can be described as ‘’warring brothers’’ who only unite to exploit the masses but warred to protect their individual interest in grabbing the larger share of their loot. Read more>>
Muhammadu Buhari was sworn in as president of the West African state of Nigeria on 29 May—almost 30 years after he was overthrown as a military dictator. Before he wonhe promised to fight corruption, defeat the Boko Haram insurgency and renew prosperity. Read more>>
International Update
The Greek referendum result is a blow to every politician, banker and boss who wants to impose austerity on workers. Working class people in Greece defied all of the European Union (EU) and International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) propaganda and intimidation. Their “Project Fear” was intense—and virtually the entire Greek ruling class lined up behind them. Read more>>
The Greek government, led by the left party Syriza, has called a referendum on the austerity agreement that the European Central Bank (ECB), the European Union (EU) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have been trying to impose since Syriza was elected in January 2015. These bodies pushed through vicious austerity measures in “memorandums” with previous governments. Read more>>
People are rightly outraged with the idea that each member of the National Assembly is to receive a ‘wardrobe’ allowance of N9million. This is at a time when most states are not paying all the salaries and pensions that are due to their workers and we are told that austerity measures are necessary. Read more>>
Trade Unionism
The Federation of Informal Workers Organisations in Nigeria (FIWON) has spoken out against Walmart’s plans to establish retail outlets in Nigeria. Read more>>
Two weeks after he unceremoniously ended the contracts of 10,000 Youth Employment Scheme (YES) workers, Adams Oshiomole, Governor of Edo State called on the YES teachers to return to their posts. This was a reaction to protests by students demanding the return of their teachers as they do not even have enough. Read more>>
State and Federal governments claim they have no money and so they say the workers cannot be paid their salaries. In 18 states the NLC called public sector workers on indefinite strike from Monday, 25th May, as they had not been paid their due salaries. Now in Edo State the Governor has abolished the Youth Employment Scheme (YES) and the police attacked a peaceful demonstration and shot and injured three workers. Read more>>
Maternal and child mortality has remained very high in Nigeria despite the efforts aimed at reducing the incidences, and generally improve maternal and child health. The maternal and neonatal mortality rate review by Federal Ministry of Health in 2007 indicated an alarmingly high figure. Read more>>
Salaries of workers in 18 states have been owed in some cases for up to 7months. These states are: Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Benue, Cross River, Ekiti, Imo, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Kogi, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers and Zamfara. Nigeria Labour Congress has called workers out on an indefinite strike in those states. Read more>>
Socialist Worker May/June 2015
Socialist Worker, May/June: Workplace and Union
“ We were just paid the salary of October 2013 last December…” This was the sobering response to questions from Socialist Worker, by a “temporarily- engaged” lecturer at the Institute of Continuing Education (I.C.E), Benin City. Read more>>
Today, nearly all public sector workers are heavily short changed by the government, their employer. The fraud by government runs into billions and includes the Federal Government and state governments run by both PDP and APC. Non payment of salaries is probably the most culpable aspect of this open and brazen theft of workers financial entitlements. Read more>>
Judiciary workers organised in the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) are still on strike in 15 states of the federation. The union insists that it is committed to ensuring the full autonomy of the Judiciary sector. Read more>>
In mid April, the civil servants of Ebonyi State won a major victory against the “no work – no pay” policy. This was after a successful one month strike. The State Government agreed to pay, “within 48 hours” of signing an agreement. Read more>>
Thousands of workers in Osun State demonstrated at Osogbo, the state capital on March 10, protesting the non-payment of 5 months salaries by the government. Read more>>
Members of the National Association of Air Traffic Controllers, a component part of the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) won a very important victory after a 6-hour warning strike on April 16. Read more>>
Nigeria Labour Congress reaffirmed its commitment to the struggle of the people of the Western Saharawi Arad Republic for independence from Morocco. Read more>>
Technical education is widely accepted to be a key driver for sustainable economic growth and development. As a result, the new government is expected to renew efforts to promote technical education and training. This should be through the enhancement of the polytechnic sector of education. Read more>>
The academic and non-academic unions of state colleges organised under the Council of Academic Staff Unions of Osun State Tertiary Institutions (CASUOSTI) and Non Academic Staff Union (NASU) have in the last two years embarked on various actions to promote and agitate for better funding of education. Read more>>
The National Union of Electricity Employees, an affiliate of the NLC has expressed its ejection of the use of nuclear power to generate electricity in Nigeria. This was in response to ongoing discussions between the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission and Rosatom Corporation, a Russian firm. Read more>>
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