WHAT WILL HAPPEN AFTER CASTRO? US Imperialism Certainly Expects ‘regime change’, Not Just in the Government Of Cuba But Also In Its Social System. Will Cuba inevitably go the way of Russia and Eastern Europe following the collapse of the Berlin Wall in 1989, with the return of a virulent capitalism? This question is prompted by the recent illness of
Privatisation of Unity Schools? NO WAY! Students, Youth and Workers Should Resist Neo-Liberal Attack on Public Education Being an extract from a statement from Lagos State National Conscience Party in October 2006. As always expected from an irresponsible government, the 102 unity schools nationwide have been slated for privatisation. The Minister of Education, Obiageli Ezekwesili, made this announcement recently. The
OAU: Candidates Challenge Fraudulent Post-UME Examination By H.T. Soweto The post UME candidates helped organize into “Post-UME Candidates Forum” by the Education Rights Campaign (ERC) Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Chapter staged series of protest actions against the fraudulent conduct of the recent Post UME examination in the University. Protest letters were written and submitted by candidates who were denied admission
WHY POST JAMB? By Keye Ewebiyi The Post JAMB Test introduced by the immediate past Minister of Education has failed in its bid to sanitize the education sector. The exam was initiated illegally to curb the inefficiency of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) in conducting credible matriculation examination in Nigeria. Nigeria is a country where not less than
UI: Authorities Victimise Another Student Activist! The authorities of the University of Ibadan (UI), which are notorious for vitimisation of student activities who lead students to challenge their highhandedness and demand improvement in welfare, have expelled another student activist, Anthony Oni, the immediate past Secretary of the Democratic Socialist Movement (DSM), UI Branch. Among those that had been victimized and
ERC: Ajegunle Chapter Holds Free Coaching Classes The Ajegunle Branch of Education Rights Campaign (ERC) held the second edition of free coaching classes between August 2 and September 6, 2006, for senior secondary school students in the community. About 150 students participated in the programme. The maiden edition took place last year. The coaching was rounded up with a symposium
DSM Holds National Committee (NC) Meeting At its National Committee (NC) meeting held between September 23 and 24, 2006, the Democratic Socialist Movement (DSM) x-rayed the capitalist induced socio-economic problems confronting humanity in Nigeria and internationally and came to a conclusion that only the working class unity and a working people political alternative built on a socialist programme nationally and
2007 GENERAL ELECTIONS Oshiomhole Declares For Labour Party By Segun Sango In the presence of an over 5,000 expectant crowd, mostly made up of workers, students, women, youths and the poor in general, the outgoing President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole, on Wednesday September 6, 2006 in Benin, publicly presented himself and his manifesto seeking to be
GOVERNMENT OF CORRUPTION Obasanjo and Atiku Must Go! For a Working People’s Political Alternative! By Peluola Adewale When President Olusegun Obasanjo was in Singapore attending IMF/World Bank annual meeting on September 16, his attention should have been fixed on the tumultuous events rocking close by in Taiwan. About 100,000 people had literally taken over the Capital, Taipei, to press their
SALES OF NITEL TO OBJ: Real Meaning of Privatisation By Lanre Akinola Recently, the Obasanjo led PDP government finally sold NITEL to Transnational Corporation, otherwise known as Transcorp. The sale of NITEL, one of the national heritages, is a continuation of neo-liberal policies of commercialisation and privatisation of the commanding heights of the economy that has been embarked upon by
Voters Registration Exercise: A BIG SHAM By Demola Yaya The present farce tagged “voters registration and revalidation exercise” by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) commenced October 25 is a graphic indication that both the commission and the Obasanjo’s regime can never conduct a credible, free and fair election come 2007 general elections. Before the commencement of the exercise, Chairman
LAGOS: COMMUNITY MASS STRUGGLE PAYS By Toyin Raheem, Chairperson NCP Agege Local Government The National Conscience Party (NCP), Agege Local Government chapter in conjunction with Agege Community Movement (ACOM) once again demonstrated the power in collective struggle. The people of Kareem Babatunde Street in Papa-Ashafa, Agege, shall forever remain grateful to the National Conscience Party and Agege Community Movement for
Oceanic Bank Workers Opt For a Union By Dagga Tolar The so-called “higher standard of service” dished out by a majority of the new generation banks is largely at the great expense of the workers, who are outright denied the right to belong to a trade union. Workers are made to sign a document, stating their non-interest in the union
BAKASSI: Transferred from Satan to Lucifer By Bashiru Idris On Thursday 10, October 2002, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) delivered judgment on oil rich Bakassi Peninsular and finally gave its ownership to Cameroon, Nigeria’s neighbouring country. The court decision was based on Ango-German agreement of 11 March 1913. The Peninsular is an area of some 1,000km of mangrove swamp
NIGERCHIN WORKERS STRUGGLE Labour Leadership Should Work For Victory By Emma Adikwe The workers of Nigerchin Ikeja Lagos, who staged a heroic three-month struggle to press home demand for recognition of their rights to belong to trade union of their choice, have been left to rot in lurch. They have neither won the battle nor returned back to their work
Mass Retrenchment under the Guise of Reform By Niran Okewole Nigerian workers have watched with dismay as the Federal Government unfolded its plans to downsize the public service. By this arrangement, the heads of 33,000 workers are to be placed on the guillotine. Labour leader, Adams Oshiomole, has criticized this initiative, stating that it would deprive not just the workers
FROM NEPA TO PHCN: Name Changes but Darkness Remains By Bosah Chinedu Since the change of the name from National Electric Power Authority (NEPA), which is commonly known as “never expect power always” to Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) also known as “please hold your candles now”, epileptic power supply has gone from bad to worse. In fact, much
BLEAK 2007: URGENT NEED FOR A WORKING PEOPLES’ PARTY By Dagga Tolar The feud between President Obasanjo and Vice President Atiku which resulted into an exposition with documentary evidences of high scale corruption in the presidency affirms the long held position of the Democratic Socialist Movement (DSM) that both men are not, in anyway, fit to continue to rule Nigeria
REFORMS IN THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY More Job Losses On The Way By Toyin Raheem, Chairman, Agege NCP The government of General Olusegun Obasanjo has proved beyond reasonable doubt it is all out to unleash ceaseless neo-liberal attack on workers and poor masses. Every government should be able to appraise itself and retrace its steps towards improving on the welfare of
NCP AND THE 2007 GENERAL ELECTIONS By Demola Yaya Against the background of constant and severe attacks on the living condition of the poor working masses by the governments at levels through the neo-liberal policies of privatisation and commercialisation of public property and social services like education, healthcare, etc, mass retrenchment, hike in the pump price of locally consumed fuel