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For struggle, Solidarity and Socialism in Nigeria |
Committee for a Workers' International
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Socialist Democracy March - April 2005
CRISIS LOOMS IN SEWUNRight Wing National Leadership Faces Allegation Of Ineptitude And Corruption
Steel and Engineering Workers Union of Nigeria (SEWUN) is presently engulfed in a deep political crisis, the outcome of which will determine which trend controls the soul of the union.
The battle line is drawn between the progressive radical forces of change and the opportunistic status quo that wants to perpetuate its influence in the union at the expense of the workers interest.
In a petition against the national leadership signed by forty-four leaders of the union representing branches in the Ikeja Area Council 1 of SEWUN led by Comrade Rufus Olusesan, a member of the DSM, the national leadership is accused of nose-diving the union into a state of inertia due to its ineptitude, unprincipled compromise with the employers and outright corruption.
Listed as part of atrocities are: arbitrary collection of check off dues in advance and borrowing money from company management, which has informed the national leadership inability to fight against job loss, casualisation and fight for implementation of minimum wage and the right of workers to unionise. Places of work like MIKANO, COOK 'N' LITE, ELDORADO, Tower Aluminium and WAHUM are examples where national leadership's rotten compromise has virtually exposed workers to further attacks by the management.
Illegal suspension of two national officers, AC Mbachu and A.N. Uwakolom and selective, contradictory directives from the national secretariat of the union to some opposing union officers holding dual union offices at the Ikeja Area Council 1 to relinquish one are also causing ripples in the union.
As a fight back, the national leadership of Aguele has commenced a systematic victimisation of all union officers considered as threats to its commercial interest, even in collaboration with company management.
The way forward is for a genuine leadership that stands for workers interest to work within the rank and file, discuss all issues at the branch and council levels to expose the anti-labour interest of the national leadership. A distinct alternative programme of actions should be worked out with a view to change this rotten leadership at all levels of the union.
Socialist Democracy March - April 2005
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