Democratic Socialist Movement (DSM)

For struggle, Solidarity and Socialism in Nigeria

Committee for a Workers' International

Home

Join DSM

Contact DSM

About us

Our Manifesto

Statements

Socialist Democracy

Newspaper of the DSM

Campaigns

NCP

Trade Unions

Students

Women

International

Downloads

email

Socialist Democracy November 2004

Perhaps more than any other period in the life of Obasanjo's administration, the inherent contradiction in its capitalist neo-liberal policies has become much sharper and kept throwing up more and more series of resistance from the workers. In the month of November alone, besides the indefinitely strike and protest called by the Labour-civil Society Coalition (LASCO) against the increase in the fuel price hike which is, expectedly, in the front burner, there are other pockets of strikes embarked upon by workers in different sectors from health, judiciary, iron and steel to the civil services. Looking at the demand of the workers of the different sectors, one thing it is clear they are unleashed by the same attack characteristic of neo-liberal policies and that has become unbearable, thus necessitates fight back.

In the month of November, the Judiciary workers under the auspices of Judiciary Staff Association of Nigeria (JUSAN), blazed the trail of the strikes on Monday, November 1, commencing a 5-day warning strike that lasted Friday November 5. Parts of the workers demands are the unified judiciary salary structure which was recommended by the National Judicial Institute, the National Wages and Salaries Commission and the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, the release of outstanding promotions of judiciary staff, reinstatement of the suspended workers of the Abia State Judiciary, and the immediate constitution of long-awaiting Judiciary Pensions Boards, among other demands that will improve their living and working condition.

On Wednesday November 3, The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) workers, under the banner of Coalition of Industrial Unions (COIU) embarked on one day strike and peaceful protest against the non-implementation of their over-due promotions, non-payment of leave bonuses, non-constitution of governing boards for the FCT sports council, water board, Federal Capital Development Authority, FCDA, and Abuja Environmental Protection board, AEPB. The workers also demanded the resignation of the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, Nasir el-Rufai, for his dictatorial administration and totally rejected Obasanjo's economic reform agenda.

November 8, alone marked the flag off of the industrial actions by medical doctors, the pharmacists and medicine allied practitioners in Lagos State and the iron and steel workers. The doctors, National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) began a two-day warning strike to demand payment of their monthly emoluments, implementation of the approved increase in their basic salaries and funding in the health sector with particular reference to personnel costs. According to the NARD, most of the resident doctors since November 2003 had not been paid their salaries on percentage basis.

The medicine allied practitioners, the Nigeria Union of Pharmacists, Medical Scientists and Professions allied to Medicine, Lagos chapter were equally on a two-day warning strike to demand payment of the outstanding allowances. They further resolved that after the warning strike and their demands were not met they would embark on indefinite strike, however after giving another ultimatum of 14 days to the government.

On their part, the iron and steel workers, Steel and Engineering Workers' Union, SEWUN and the Iron and Steel Senior Staff Association, (ISSSAN) in the public sector opted for an indefinite strike to protest decay in the sector. According to the workers the neglect of the sector has been heightened with the non-inclusion of the sector in the 2005 budget proposal. By and large, their demands include payment of the arrears of salaries and adequate funding of the sector.

Although, it may have been put differently, the demands of the different groups and categories of workers highlighted above if put in one broad form are the agitation for improvement in their living and working conditions. This together with the fact that the issues being confronted by the various worker unions takes their root in the same source, the capitalist neo-liberal policies of the government, is a pointer to the need for a united action among all categories of the workers particularly in the same sector on the immediate and long term basis. To be particular, the workers unions in the health sector in the recent period more than any other place have had cause for a united action to fight for improvement both in the standards of living and working conditions. For the past five month the health sector has been in turmoil with the tumultuous struggles of the workers for improvement. The workers of Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, were on strike for more than two months, between June and September. Immediately after them the workers of the Psychiatric Hospital and Orthopedic Hospital, both in Lagos, including nurses took up the baton of strike that lasted close to a month..

However, the workers should note that even if at all they win any of their demands through their persistent struggles, it would require as much, if not a greater battle to keep these gains, for as long as this capitalist system remains whatever is given to the workers would be taken back. As long as this system holds sway, more attacks from the ruling class against the workers are inevitable. What is required is a concerted effort by the mass of the working people, collectively struggling for minimal gains side by side with the perspective to dislodge the capitalist government and put in place a workers and poor farmers' government. This is the only permanent anti-dote against the unending circle of crisis for the working masses.

Socialist Democracy November 2004