At least 150 people representing about 25 organisations as well as in individual capacity attended a special meeting called by Joint Action Front (JAF) on Thursday January 5, 2012 at Imoudu Hall NLC Yaba Lagos. The meeting deliberated and agreed on various strategies and mass activities that could help defeat the anti-poor policy of cruel hike in the price of petrol as from Monday January 9, 2011. A central tactical committee and action committees in various communities in Lagos were step up to enforce the strike, organize street protests and hold regular public meetings for enlightenment purpose as well as for planning of activities in the communities.
The combative mood of the participants at the meeting mirrors the deep-seated mass anger against the anti-poor agenda of Jonathan and unflinching resolve of Nigeria to fight until the fuel price is reversed to the old rate. The relationship between the fuel price hike and the entire anti-poor neo-liberal agenda of deregulation and privatization was emphasized.
Rising from the meeting, the leadership of JAF addressed a press conference to reaffirm the orgainsation’s demand for reversal of the price of not only petrol to N65 but also of diesel to N70 and kerosene to N50 and its readiness to provide leadership, along with its labour partners, (NLC and TUC) for Nigerians in the struggle. JAF also reiterates its opposition to the anti-poor agenda of deregulation and privatization and argues for a working people political alternative to struggle for political power. The need for this has been further underscored by the increasingly brutal attack unleashed on Nigerians by the government at all levels.
It should be recalled that JAF led about 5000 Nigerians on street protest in Lagos on January 3, 2012 to kick-start a series of mass action against fuel price hike nationwide.
On the issue of petroleum, one of the main points of the JAF should be that the government needs to fix and maintain local refineries not just to create jobs but also to drastically reduce cost associated with petroleum production and fuel at the pump, which also essentially translates to lower cost of everything that relies on transportation, including food. I don't know why this has not been at the forefront of discussions and protests.
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