Mrs Ganiyat Fawehinmi organizes protest march

Today, December 31, 2011 Mrs Ganiyat Fawehinmi, the widow of the late human rights crusader and the tribune of the masses, Gani, led a protest march in Lagos. The march which took off at the Skypower Ground Ikeja was to protest against the planned increase in fuel price under the guise of the fuel subsidy removal as well as the obnoxious fees introduced in Lagos state university (LASU) by the Babatunde Fashola ACN government in Lagos state. By the time the rally which lasted over 3 hours was brought to an end at the Gani's park Ojota over 100 people had participated.  The affiliates and members of JAF were very active at the action which was a dress rehearsal for January 3, 2012  mass action in Lagos  

Jan 3, 2012 Kick-off of Mass Action against Planned Increase in Fuel Prices: JAF's Mobilisation Leaflet

Joint Action Front (JAF)

[the Pro-Labour civil society organisations in Labour and Civil Society Coalition (LASCO)]

NIGERIANS, A CALL TO MASS ACTION TO RESIST INCREASE IN FUEL PRICES!

REJECT IMF/WORLD BANK POLICIES OF PRIVATISATION & DEREGULATION!!

SYSTEM CHANGE IS OUR GOAL!!!

JAF DECLARES JANUARY 3RD 2012 AS THE KICK-OFF OF MASS ACTION AGAINST THE CRUEL HIKE IN FUEL PRICES!

@

Nigeria Labour Congress,

29 Olajuwon Street, Tejuoso, Yaba-Lagos

@ 8am

THE TIME IS NOW,

THE SUFFERINGS MUST STOP!

NIGERIANS DONT DESERVE THIS PUNISHMENT!!

Profiteers and looters, Slavemasters and their puppets are insulting the people of Nigeria. We must not allow them to enslave us again.

·    BOYCOTT and SHUT the FILLING STATIONS that SELL FUEL above the current prices (petrol @ N65 a litre, kerosene @ N50 a litre and diesel @ N70 a litre).

·  Use MASS ACTION to Enforce STAY-AT-HOME and STRIKE ACTIONS whenever labour and its allies in Labour and Civil Society Coalition (LASCO) declares such.

The Joint Action Front (JAF), the pro-Labour civil society component of the Labour and Civil Society Coalition (LASCO) hereby calls on the Nigerian working people, students, traders, professionals, women, unemployed youth, farmers, artisans, Muslims, Christians and traditional believers and compatriots to ARISE NOW  and use MASS ACTION to REJECT and RESIST any increase in the prices of fuel.

The continuous fraudulent enrichment of the few ruling cabals in Federal, State and Local Governments and their cronies through the anti-people policies of PRIVATISATION and DEREGULATION and the unprecedented mismanagement and looting of public funds through so-called FUEL SUBSIDY and SECURITY VOTES since 1999, MUST not be allowed to continue.

The scandalous revelations from the Senate probe on Privatisation and the arrogance with which the ruling class of looters insists on continuing with such failed IMF/World Bank economic policies that are responsible for job losses and collapse of local industries, growing rate of millions of unemployed, mass poverty and sufferings, commercialized education and lack of access to basic necessities of life; are clear testimonies of the desperation by this band of profiteers and looters to perpetuate corrupt gangs in power. THIS IS THE TIME TO ACT.

The Inspector General of Police has been reported to say that the police and security operatives are trigger-happy to crush all protests against hike in fuel prices. What further evidence do we need other than the fascist order by Governor Fashola of Lagos State to a combined team of armed personnel and political thugs, that ensured the killing, brutalization, arrest and detention of residents of Lekki and its environs in Etiosa LGA of Lagos State, who peacefully protested against the imposition of toll fees on Saturday, December 17, 2011. The IG of police and the political rulers should be reminded by recent events across the world that those leaders who repress their people and violate their rights will sooner or later be brought to justce.

When a government resorts to the use of force (as so determined by the Jonathan presidency, Governor Fashola and others) to IMPOSE anti-poor policies and repress the people, it is incumbent on the working people and the poor (talakawas) to RESIST and DEMAND the exit of such GOVERNMENT.

SYSTEM CHANGE NOW!

Arise Nigerians now, and let’s chase the CLASS OF LOOTERS and PROFITEERS AWAY and bring about a GOVERNMENT that will:

·    Make the 4 Refineries to work and build new ones and make petroleum products cheaper and affordable to all.

·    Reverse the fraudulent handover of public enterprises such as NITEL, Nigeria Airways, Nigerian Ports Authority, Ajaokuta Steel, Osogbo Steel Rolling Mill, Itakpe Iron and Ore, Tafawa Balewa Square, National Arts Theatre, Trade Fair Complex, ALSCON, Nigerian Newsprint Manufacturing Company (NNMC), Daily Times, etc.

·    Ensure heavy public investment in industrialization and infrastructure (energy, rail, road, and mass housing) to enhance millions of employment opportunities and wealth creation.

·    Stop the privatization of PHCN and ensure that it is kept public and made efficient under the democratic control and management of elected committees of workers, consumers and representatives of the government in order to ensure that public resources invested are not mismanaged or looted as is the case with OBJ-Yar’dua-Jonathan regimes.

·    Ensure adequate funding of education and healthcare and respect collective agreements reached with Labour, ASUU-SSANU-NASU and other tertiary institutions workers’ unions.

·    Ensure a new POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC ORDER that will end the era of Privatisation, Deregulation, looting and exploitation by the corrupt capitalist ruling cabals and ensure that wealth of the country is judiciously applied to benefit the majority working population (formal and informal sectors) and the poor.

JOIN THE MASS ACTIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY NOW!

Read, make copies and pass to others.

Join others to organize and mobilize for MASS ACTION.

THIS CLASS OF PROFITEERS & LOOTERS HAVE STARTED THE FUEL FIRE and

IT WILL CONSUME THEM ALL

DARE TO STRUGGLE, DARE TO WIN!

FREEDOM IS NOT GIVEN, IT IS FOUGHT FOR AND WON!! 

            DR. DIPO FASHINA                        Comrade ABIODUN AREMU

            JAF Chairperson                             JAF Secretary

Issued  on 28th  December 2011 by the Joint Action Front (JAF), 10 Afolabi Lesi Street, Ilupeju-Anthony, Lagos-Nigeria. 08035068524, 08033347962. www.jointactionfront.blogspot.com, Email: jnt_action@yahoo.co.uk

Mass Sensitization against Planned Increase in Fuel Price: JAF Leaflet issued on November 23, 2011

JOINT ACTION FRONT (JAF)

[the Pro-Labour civil society organisations in Labour and Civil Society Coalition (LASCO)]

Calls on Nigerians - Workers, Women, Youths & Students, Traders, Artisans, Professionals, Transporters,   Muslims, Christians & Traditional Believers and People of Good Conscience

to

· REJECT Planned Increases in Fuel Prices!

· DEMAND Nationalisation of the Oil Sector under Democratic Control by the Working People!!

· PREPARE for a General Strike and Mass protest Now!!!

FUEL SUBSIDY IS FRAUD! REJECT IT!!

Despite all its pretence to better the lot of Nigerians, it should now be clear to all that the Government of Goodluck Jonathan is resolved to worsen the suffering of ordinary Nigerians with the planned increases in the prices of petroleum products, using the guise of removal of a (non-existent) fuel subsidy.

The argument so far canvassed by Government is that it is only a cabal of profiteers who benefit from the subsidy. This statement alone exposed the Jonathan Presidency as irresponsible and anti-poor. This means that Government, with all the apparatuses of power at its disposal, cannot deal with the profiteers and private sharks who have been looting funds appropriated in the name of subsidy. Instead, the anti-poor Government is desperate to  unleash high fuel prices on the ordinary people, who will now pay for the greed and super profit of these cronies of top government functionaries; some of who are financiers of the ruling PDP.

The price increases which will be imposed any moment from now and which will be as high as N150 per litre of petrol, will definitely affect the living conditions of the working masses and compound our hardships. We must therefore be prepared to do everything within our capacity to REJECT it.

WHY NIGERIANS SHOULD NOT PAY MORE FOR FUEL?

In spite of huge oil revenue, particularly since 1999 which has been the longest run of oil windfall in the history of Nigeria, successive regimes (Obasanjo-Yar Adua-Jonathan) have failed to build new refineries and deliberately rendered the existing ones inefficient and under-functional.

Nigeria has the notorious record of being the only petroleum producing country that cannot meet the fuel demands of its citizens. Though we have four refineries, they are so poorly maintained that their total and combined production guarantee less than 20 percent of fuels needed for domestic consumption. This is more disturbing given the fact that Nigeria, which is the world’s 6th largest exporter of crude oil, produces the best brand of crude that is the easiest to refine. With adequate and functional refineries, there would not have been the floated gimmick of so-called huge oil subsidy, which is fraudulently paid to the importers of fuel.

With functional refineries, Nigeria can provide adequate supply of petrol, diesel, kerosene, gas, aviation fuel, low pour fuel oil (LPFO used in Manufacturing industries), etc, at cheap prices. We will also be able to generate additional revenue through export of refined fuel products and petrochemical derivates. But we pay more for fuel because the system of neo-liberal capitalism adopted by successive regimes encourages the ruling cabals to make the Country import-dependent on fuel and thereby cause the country huge losses of revenue.

CAN PRIVATE INVESTORS MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

Government has said the private investors are the solution to the crisis in the oil sector, and that if the so-called oil subsidy is removed, (in other words, if oil industry is deregulated), private investors will build new refineries and with competition, fuel prices, even if goes up initially, will soon come down. This is a blatant lie.

JAF wishes to inform Nigerians that since 2002, more than 20 licenses were issued to private investors to build refineries. None till date has laid even the foundation, let alone build the facilities. Why? The fact is that the the so-called private investors do not have the capacity to invest in long-term, capital intensive projects like refineries, but rather prefer quick and speculative businesses with super profit like importation of oil. They are the same ruling cabals and cronies that got licenses to build refineries and at the same time, the profiteers who import refined fuel products and loot the so-called fuel subsidy.

Nigerians must ask: why did a group of private profiteers including Obasanjo’s Transcorps, Aliko Dangote and Femi Otedola under the auspices of Bluestars buy the Kaduna Refinery a few days to the end of Obasanjo regime in 2007 even when the oil industry was not deregulated? The reason was that the refinery was sold to Bluestars at a give-away price so that with little capital they would have made quick and super profit. But for the STRIKE/MASS PROTEST organised by JAF and its labour partners (NLC & TUC) under the banner of Labour and Civil Society Coalition (LASCO) from June 20 – 24, 2007, which Nigerians actively supported, and which compelled the Yar’Adua government to reverse the rotten sale of the Kaduna Refinery and other public assets; this band of looters would have taken over the ownership of the 4 refineries with the singular intention to make super profit without producing a litre of fuel.

NIGERIANS SHOULD FIGHT THIS ANTI-POOR AGENDA

We must organize in communities, workplaces and campuses to build mass resistance against the proposed increases in prices of kerosene, petrol, diesel, LPFO, aviation fuel,  and other petroleum products. The proposed outrageous increases in fuel prices will compound the already high cost of living, and make life much more unbearable for most people.

We must never allow Government to have its way with the wicked plan. The working people and oppressed Nigerians must have their way because fuel is so central and essential to our daily life and every Nigerian - hairdressers, welders, tailors, women, mechanics, students, professionals, traders, etc, will be affected by the high prices. High fuel prices mean high cost of transport, high cost of goods and services especially food items, medicine, clothes, schooling, poor purchasing power of the Naira, and more suffering. The only set of people that will not be adversely affected are the cabals in Governments (at the local, states & federal) and their hangers-on.

Nigerians must begin preparation for protracted mass actions as the government is hell-bent to go ahead with the proposed increases. We should form Action Committees against fuel price increases in our communities, workplaces, schools, town unions, religious places and other constituencies to join forces with JAF and its labour partners to RESIST and DEFEAT this anti-poor policy. Activists and class-conscious workers in the workplaces must begin to raise debate in the trade unions for a General Strike and Mass protests as the next line of action.

Also, Nigerians should prepare for a protracted struggle to end these regimes of corrupt politicians and looters and replace them with a Government of the working people and the poor who MUST use the oil wealth and the resource endowment of the country to benefit and better the lives of ALL. 

JOIN FORCES WITH JAF TODAY TO:

1.    Reject Deregulation and Hike in Prices of Fuel

2.    Demand Public Trial of all public and private profiteers and dealers involved in the looting of oil subsidy, repair of refineries as well as other corrupt atrocities in the privatisation of public enterprises.

3.    Demand that the books of the oil industry be made OPEN to the Trade Unions and Working people organizations for Public Inquisition.

4.    Insist on Public Massive investment in the building of refineries and overhauling of the facilities and infrastructures for haulage of fuel

5.    Struggle to End the Privatization and Deregulation policies.

6.    Call on NLC and TUC to disown their membership of the National Council of Privatization (NCP) and Stay out of it Now!

7.    Demand that the oil sector and the NNPC should be placed under public ownership and management and democratic control of the working people, consumers and local experts.

8.    Organise and Mobilise for a Working People political party that must put in political power a Government that will end the era of looting and exploitation by the corrupt capitalist ruling cabals and ensure that wealth of the country is judiciously applied to benefit the majority working population (formal and informal sectors) and the poor.

            DR. DIPO FASHINA                        Comrade ABIODUN AREMU

            JAF Chairperson                             JAF Secretary

Issued  on 23rd November 2011 by the Joint Action Front (JAF), 10 Afolabi Lesi Street, Ilupeju-Anthony, Lagos-Nigeria. 08035068524, 08033347962. Email: jnt_action@yahoo.co.uk

November 30 Symposium

 

November 30 2011 Symposium against the planned increase in fuel prices under the guise of fuel subsidy removal

JAF's Programme

NIGERIANS: A CALL TO ACTION

[JAF’s Programme as adopted at its 2^nd National Delegates Conference on October 8^th – 9^th 2011]

1.   PREAMBLE

That we live in turbulent times is not in doubt. That we have to fight for our lives is a reality the masses of Nigeria know. That we desire a strong organization to lead us in struggle is not in doubt. That the conditions in our country are going to continue to degenerate except the masses directly intervene by taking their destiny into their hands is an indisputable fact of history.

This explains why JAF is assessing the current situation and reinvigorating itself toward playing a decisive role in the struggle of the Nigerian working people.

2. BASIC PRINCIPLES OF STRUGGLE

2.1      The Programme anchors JAF as a movement against all forms of exploitation and oppression.

2.2      JAF as a social movement means that its programme of action should appreciate reform and revolutionary transformation of the polity towards the social emancipation of the country and people.

2.3      JAF identifies the forces to achieve such immediate and ultimate goals as socialist and non-socialist working class organisations including human rights and other civil society groups that subscribe to the programme of actions of JAF.

2.4      The Programme of Action shall be to fight for welfare and well being of the working people, social infrastructures and against neo-liberal capitalist policy, corruption, inequality and other forms of exploitation and oppression. The specifics shall be determined from time to time.

2.5      JAF shall reposition itself to galvanise all working class political forces against the existing social order with the aim of capturing political power.

2.6      Ideological education classes shall be provided for rank and file workers, working class women and youths including cadres of the organisation.

2.7      There should be established a Code of Conduct for Organisation Discipline.

2.8      There should be a Resource Mobilisation Committee that handles issues of access to materials and funds.

2.9      For effective running of the organisation JAF shall put in place committees such as secretariat, organising, finance and mobilisation; and other committees shall be constituted from time to time depending on situation.

2.10   Encourage and strengthen the partnership with Labour in Labour and Civil Society Coalition (LASCO) to provide leadership in the mass struggle in the country that will bring about working people’s government.

3. JAF DEFINED

3.1 JAF is a united front of pro-Labour organizations and activists in Nigeria who have faith in the Labour Movement, who believe in the strength of the working masses and youth.JAF understands that in the struggle to change Nigeria, the working class must play a decisive role and should form alliances with other working people, marginalized groups and oppressed strata of the society.

3.2 The Joint Action Front (JAF) represents the third arm of the Labour and Civil society Coalition (LASCO), a coalition of the NLC, TUC and JAF, which represents the pro-labour civil society arm of the LASCO.

3.3 JAF understands that for real change to come there must be a system change. In essence, the establishment of a democratic working class government, responsible to the interests of the working people, remains the sole solution to the crisis imposed on the society by the current capitalist class.

3.4 JAF is committed to system change, which can only occur with the mass mobilization of the Nigerian working people. The path of change remains the building and strengthening the independent organizations of the working people and the struggle against all forms of capitalist attacks; and opposing all forms of corruptions and undemocratic measures within the labour movement.

3.5 JAF is also committed to the consistent political education of the masses. When the majority of the masses clearly see through their practical experience in struggle that system change is the only way forward, no force can stop them.

3.6 JAF is committed to working with the leadership of the Nigerian trade union movement (NLC and TUC) and the rank and file workers in the day-to-day struggle of the working people.

3.7 JAF is committed to the defense of the rights of the working people in the informal economy and the oppressed strata in the society, such as the artisans, the unemployed, the unorganized, poor rural farmers, non-students youths, etc, and shall forge close relations with their independent organizations and help deepened their alliances with organised labour.

3.8 JAF is committed to the struggle to defeat all anti-people programmes inspired by IMF/World Bank such as privatization, deregulation, etc. and for a working people’s government committed to progressively reversing all the anti-people policies.

3.9 JAF is committed to the unity of the Nigerian working people and will fight against all attempts to split the masses on religious and ethnic lines by the ruling elites.

 

4.   IMMEDIATE PROGRAM

• The 2011 elections we have been told will usher in a new period in the history of our country. The bosses and politicians have claimed that the elections were “free, fair and credible”. But it is impossible for elections to be truly “free and fair” when those that can contest are only the rich and wealthy. Those that have been “elected” will formulate and implement policies and laws that will favour their continued exploitation and domination of the masses. There can be no real alternative which represents the aspirations and yearnings of the working people at all levels of government, when those in power are capitalists and their representatives.
• It is crystal clear that those who have been “elected” will continue to unleash neo-liberal attacks on the people, which have already started. Hence, JAF should be positioned to intervene and mobilize mass resistance against all social-economic and political attacks against working people in the coming period.
• JAF should be ready to be a force and supporting voice of the working people by regularly stating its position publicly on policies, programs and actions or inactions of the government.
• JAF should be ready initiate actions and protests against all forms of neo-liberal attacks in all sectors of social life.
• Specifically, it must intensify efforts in the struggle against privatization particularly of the power sector, which has started but presently suspended.
• Support workers in their struggle for a living wage. The current national minimum wage of N18, 000 has been signed into law. As experience has shown, there is tougher struggle ahead to ensure strict implementation of the minimum wage by all states of the federation.
• JAF has to begin, separately and along with labour leadership, mass mobilization of workers and the general public for a struggle should any state government fail or refuse to pay the new minimum wage.
• JAF must also show interest in issues and attacks at workplaces, communities and schools.
• The major lesson of the 2011 election is the absence of a working people political alternative at the polls. JAF should therefore commence immediately the discussion on the current state of the Labour Party (LP), the attitude of the leadership of the Nigerian trade unions to politics, and work towards either transforming the current NLP or building a new mass party of workers, youths, artisans, traders and other strata of the oppressed.

 

5.   IMMEDIATE LINE OF ACTION

Topmost in the agenda of JAF is the task of building the JAF nationally, because of the imperative necessity to build the bridge of unity among pro-labour activists nationally. This will facilitate the linking of the masses of the north and south in struggle and enhance the raising of the consciousness of the Nigerian masses. Towards this end, JAF makes the following demands:

5.1         No to unemployment! Work or full employment for all! Organize the employed now! Unemployment Benefits to the Unemployed!

5.2         Down with business secrets! Open the books! Let the workers have access to information about all the swindles, speculation, tax dodges, shady deals and excessive profits and bonuses. Let the people see how they have been swindled and who is responsible for the present mess!

5.3         No to factory closures and Layoff of Workers! Workers should occupy and run workplaces to save jobs!

5.4         For a wide-ranging programme of massive public works through direct labour, a massive building programme of affordable housing for all, schools, hospitals and roads.

5.5         A living wage and pension for all! A sliding scale of wages linking wage increases to increases in the cost of living.

5.6         JAF in alliance with the trade unions, co-operatives, consumers, women, etc., should work out the real index of the cost of living.

5.7         Set up committees of workers, small shopkeepers and unemployed to control price increases.

5.8         Abolition of all indirect taxation and the introduction of progressive system of direct taxation.

5.9         An end to fuel (petrol, kerosene, diesel, aviation fuel, etc) scarcity and drastic reduction of fuel prices!

5.10       Independence of the unions and resistance to state interference. An end to compulsory arbitration! No-strike deals! End to measures to restrict the scope of action of the unions!

5.11       JAF demands democratization of the unions and firm control by rank and file workers; including the strengthening of the shop stewards committees and the creation of ad hoc strike committees during strikes and other conflicts as a means of ensuring the fullest participation of the widest number of workers.

5.12       JAF stands for a militant programme to mobilise the workers in defence of jobs and living standards.

5.13       Demand for free and qualitative healthcare and education as a fundamental human rights.

5.14       Defence of the rights of people living with disabilities.

5.15       Resistance to neo-liberal policies.