Re:Oduah: Groups plan nationwide mass protest

Rejoinder to Punch Publication of Sunday 27^th October, 2013 

Press Statement 

1.   The attention of the Joint Action Front (JAF) was drawn to the malicious report on page 5 of the Sunday Punch of Sunday 27^th October, 2013, where it was stated that some civil society groups, including JAF will take to the streets in mass protests unless those found involved in the N255m armoured cars scandal rocking the Ministry of Aviation are investigated and prosecuted.

2.   While JAF welcomes any protest against monumental corruption being perpetrated by the thieving class of rulers at all levels of Government (federal, State and local) in the country, we will like to state categorically that JAF was never involved in any meeting or discussion on any protest with any group as stated in the publication.

3.   This clarification is important so as to set the record straight, more so, in the light of rent-a-crowd sponsored protest in recent time, whose objectives in most cases, were ambivalent.

4.   JAF as an organisation has a distinct record of organizing protests at national and local levels in solidarity with the working people and the oppressed poor in our country against the exploitative and oppressive policies of Governments and their agencies.

5.   In such protests we have organized in the past and will continue to do, in collaboration with groups who share our goals of the socio-economic transformation of Nigeria, we would procedurally hold democratic discussions on such issue before deciding on any action.

6.   We feel extremely slighted seeing our name - JAF - being linked to an action on we were never part of.

7.   We expect that Sunday Punch as a reputable media outfit should have, at least, sought out the principal officers of JAF before publishing the story in the paper.

8.   Thus, we demand on the management of Sunday Punch to RETRACT the unwarranted report and give it the widest circulation. JAF WAS NEVER CONSULTED BY ANY GROUP FOR SUCH REPORTED PROTEST AND WE NEVER ATTENDED ANY SUCH MEETING THAT RESOLVED ON SUCH PROTEST.

FORWARD EVER, BACKWARD NEVER

 Comrade Abiodun Aremu

JAF Secretary

Photonews: JAF Solidarises with Durapack Workers

On October 25 the Joint Action Front (JAF) held a solidarity rally in support of the workers of Durapack who have been on strike since October 8 over demands for unionisation, decent work and better pay. Durapack is a Chinese owned factory in Lagos where workers work for 12 hours a day on very poor pay and terrible working condition. The workers formally joined the National Union of Chemical, Footwear, Rubber, Leather and non-metallic Products Employees (NUCFRLANMPE) which had been trying to organise them on October 7 International Decent Work Day and elected a leadership. The management has refused to recognise the right of the workers to join a trade union and demand better pay and condition. The solidarity action was covered by the media. 

JOIN RALLY AGAINST SLAVE LABOUR IN DURAPACK ON OCT 25

 Labour and JAF activists with Durapack workers on Oct 7 Decent Work Day

Joint Action Front (JAF) urges its members to join Solidarity Rally to defend the rights of workers in DURAPACK to unionization and Decent Work and to PROTEST against Slave Labour by the Chinese owned company.

The RALLY is tomorrow Friday October 25 at 10am at Durapack Industry No 1 Awosika Street, by Mouka Foam, 2^nd Gate B/stop off Oba Akran Road Ikeja.

STOP PRECARIOUS WORK NOW!

Comrade Abiodun Aremu

JAF Secretary