Democratic Socialist Movement (DSM) |
||
For struggle, Solidarity and Socialism in Nigeria |
Committee for a Workers' International
|
|
HomeJoin DSMContact DSMAbout usOur ManifestoStatementsNewspaper of the DSM CampaignsNCPTrade UnionsStudentsWomenInternationalDownloads |
Socialist Democracy September - October 2003
OAU DSM APPRAISES STATE OF THE NATIONBy Dagga Tolar The OAU branch of DSM on 29th July organised a public symposium on the state of the country. Among the issues examined at the programme are the 2003 elections, the recent general strike against fuel price hike and the crisis in the education sector. The comrades as part of their preparation for the programme went round the various halls of residence and lecture halls to mobilize for the programme, both a day before and on the morning of the programme. The major speakers were Dr. Dipo Fashina (ASUU National President), Aj. Dagga Tolar, (editor of Socialist Democracy, the organ of the organisation), Seni Ajayi and the students union president, Akinwumi Olawoyin (both leading members of Campaign for Workers� Alternative, CWA) and Olamide Olatunji (the NCP OAU branch coordinator). The venue of the symposium, Awo Hall caf�taria was filled up with about 300-400, with a fair crowd standing outside, all the available seats having being occupied. The first speaker was Aj. Dagga Tolar who reviewed the general strike. He explained the solidarity it created among the working people and that this shows again that only the labour movement can unite the mass of the Nigerian working people across all ethnic and religious divide, and lead other oppressed strata to change society. But unfortunately the NLC leadership, because of their pro-capitalist outlook had failed to draw the necessary conclusion of the need for an alternative independent working class political alternative to the capitalist ruling class and their rotten capitalist system. He called on the NLC leaders to break with the ruling parties and instead organise a conference of trade union activists, pro-labour groups, socialists, students and NCP to discuss further on the need for a political organ for the working people and work out the strategies for its realisation. Only this can bring an end to the incessant attacks on the poor working people by the capitalist ruling class through increases in fuel price, privatisation of public assets, commercialisation of social services, retrenchment of workers, etc. Dagga also called for the solidarity struggle of all other working people in all other sectors with educational workers for one-day general strike to raise the major demands of ASUU and other unions in the education sector to halt continued crippling of the educational sector. On the recent anti-fee struggle in OAU, he pointed out that while not doubting the good intentions of the union leadership, the tactics and method of the leadership should not have been one that sought to replace themselves for the mass of the studentry, who were under pressure to resume their studies after about a year of sitting at home. The best approach would have been a patient campaign among the studentry on why the fees need to be opposed, combined with picketing by willing students while explaining the need to change society in order to put a permanent end to the crisis in education and the general socio-economic and political crises facing the society. The method of just a few activists attempting to use force to prevent thousands of students from paying the fees can only play into the hands of the school authorities. The ASUU president, Dr. Fashina, who also spoke at great length, explained that Obasanjo and co, were not the listening type and that we should expect more such arrogance and disdain for the well-being of the people from the government. He gave statistics to justify the ASUU strike and that they were left with no other option. He said that inspite of the so-called defeat, given the same situation, they would be forced to resort to the same method. He told students that the 6 months strike must be seen as part of the sacrifice we all must make if things must change. Other speakers who spoke afterwards corroborated one point or the other highlighted by the first two speakers. 100 copies of the special edition of Socialist Democracy (SD) on the lessons of the general strike were sold, alongside 65 copies of the full size edition of the paper. 30 new members indicated their willingness to join the organisation by putting down their names, departments and room numbers.
Socialist Democracy September - October 2003
|