LOOKING FOR A WORKING CLASS ALTERNATIVE TO THE BUHARI/APC CAPITALIST CRISIS? SUPPORT THE DSM
LOOKING FOR A WORKING CLASS ALTERNATIVE TO THE BUHARI/APC CAPITALIST CRISIS? SUPPORT THE DSM
APPEAL FOR DONATIONS TO CARRY ON OUR WORK
We write to appeal for generous donations towards the running of the Democratic Socialist Movement (DSM) and our intervention in workers, students and poor masses’ struggles over the next three months. This include running of the secretariat, visit to branches, payment of rents, allowances of full time and part time officers, production of the new edition of our paper, our contribution to the campaign for the registration of the Socialist Party of Nigeria (SPN) and our intervention in struggles of workers, youth and poor masses against the neo-liberal attacks of the Buhari/APC capitalist government.
As a result of economic recession, there has been a decline in revenues from members’ subscriptions and contributions. Our members are mostly workers, the toiling masses, students and unemployed youth. Just like the rest of the working and oppressed masses, they have had their living standards and incomes destroyed by the anti-poor policies of increment in fuel price and electricity tariff, non-payment of salaries and pensions, increasing inflation and cuts to social services which the Buhari/APC government has been forcing down our throats over the last 19 months.
But despite this decline in our finance, the numbers of activities and struggles that requires our intervention and commitment of our meager resources have continued to increase. This year’s splendid 6-week strike of Oyo state workers in which we played leading roles is a testament to the importance of our work and our ability to recruit. It seems very certain that struggle will increase further in the New Year given the enormity of the neo-liberal attacks in the offing.
This means that the DSM must be prepared to intervene with a view to arming the workers and young people moving into struggle with the ideas and perspective of serious struggle and socialism as an alternative to the capitalist crisis. Also on February 22, 2017, the campaign for registration of SPN will take a new turn with the case challenging the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) coming up for hearing at the Federal High Court in Abuja. We are hopeful of legal victory soon and have planned to step up the campaign by organizing protests and other actions at the court premises as well as around the country on that day. This will require enormous resources which we now do not have.
Now to make matters worse, we have been issued quit notice at the property located at 162 Ipaja Road, Agbotikuyo Bus Stop, Agege-Lagos, which we have been using as our national secretariat for about 25 years now. This means that by January 31, 2017, we must have rented a new property for use as our national secretariat.
The implication of all these is that unless we immediately raise funds, chances are that our work could be greatly hampered in the next period. This is why we are launching an emergency fundraising of N1.5million (One million, five hundred thousand naira) being the amount we believe can allow us maintain a level of activity over the next three months. Of this amount, the sum of N750, 000 is estimated as the cost of renting and furnishing a new apartment for use as our national centre, N70, 000 for production of the next edition of the paper, N130, 000 for the running of the secretariat for the next 3 months, N100, 000 for the February 22, 2017 SPN case and N450, 000 for the payment of one month’s allowance of our 9 full-time/part-time officers and an administrative secretary.
We urge all our members and supporters to respond actively to this emergency appeal for the very survival of the DSM depends on it. Every amount contributed, no matter how great or small, will be appreciated and accounted for as it will go a long way in helping us keep the work of the DSM alive.
We are mindful of the enormous difficulties the working people, our members and supporters inclusive, are going through on account of the economic crisis. Understandably, this new appeal will put enormous strain on many who have been contributing very well to our work in the past. But the reality is that there is no other way. As the Buhari/APC capitalist regime continues to drive the country into an economic blind alley, many would begin to ask questions and search for alternatives. The socialist alternative, which the DSM has been campaigning for in the over 30 years of our existence, can gain a significant audience in the new period that is opening up. This is why it is vital that our work is sustained and continues. For without a bold socialist perspective which the DSM upholds, the working masses may continue to flounder from one mistake to another in their effort to fight for a better society where the resources of Nigeria can be judiciously utilized in the interest of the mass majority instead of for the profit of a few as we have under capitalism.
To contribute to this appeal, please pay into this Account: ZENITH BANK, FORTRESS BOOKS NIGERIA, 1012616511. You can also call 08053045953 and 07033775517 to learn more about other ways you can support.