Further announcement of preparations for the Colloquium on late Prof. Bade Onimode

Some of you will remember Prof. Ben Turok. He was a prominent anti-apartheid campaigner, who also edited the famous bulletin of the African National Congress (ANC), SECHABA. He is a Director at the Institute For African Alternative (IFAA), and also now a prominent Parliamentarian in the South Afriacn Parliament representing Western Cape. This is what he said of late Prof. Bade Onimode in an e-mail... he sent to the Late Prof. Bade Onimode Memorial Colloquium Committee few minutes ago. He said Prof. Bade Onimode ''was a giant of Africa and deserves permanent recognition''. He will deliver a goodwill message at the colloquium, which will hold this Saturday, 10th December 2011 at the Omonogun Hall, G.R.A, Lokoja, Kogi State, NIGERIA. You have many more reasons to be at this event. Prof. Ben Turok, like late Prof. Onimode, authored several books on the African crisis, including debt crisis, Alternative to the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) etc. He is one of the few credible scholars of African ascent.

WE MUST GIVE OUR OWN PROF. ONIMODE, THIS GIANT OF AFRICA, A WELL DESERVED PERMANENT RECOGNITION.

Those who wish to travel without their cars from Abuja and environs should assemble in Labour House, Central Area, behinde Federal Ministry of Finance Headquarters, by NACA on Saturday 10th December. There are three buses that will pick people to and from Lokoja free of charge. Two of the three buses are from the Nigeria Emergency Management Authority, the 3rd one is from the Nigeria Labour Congress. All 3 buses will leave Labour House on schedule at exactly 7am non stop to the venue. They will return all those they carried back to Abuja sameday, after the Colloquium.

Those going from Ibadan and environs should link up with Comrade Laoye Sanda of the Dept. of Public Administration, The Polytechnic, Ibadan; Dr. Sola Olorunyomi of the Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan and Dr. Dipo Fasina of the Dept. of Philsophy, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife.
Arrangements are being made for those going from Lagos and will be announced as soon as we conclude this.

The venue of the Colloquium in honour of late Prof. Bade Onimode now OMONOGUN HALL, G.R.A, Lokoja

THE PROFESSOR BADE ONIMODE

MEMORIAL COLLOQUIUM committee

Invites The Public To

The 10^th Year Memorial Colloquium in Honour of Late Prof. Bade Onimode

THEME:  Contemporary Socio –Economic and Political Issues In   

                       Nigeria and Africa

DATE:       10^th December 2011

TIME:        9AM

VENUE:  Omonogun Memorial Hall, G.R.A, LOKOJA, KOGI STATE

GUEST SPEAKER:   Ogbeni  Rauf Aregbesola, Governor of Osun State

SPEAKERS:     1. Comrade Hassan Sunmonu, Secretary General

                                Organisation of African Trade Union Unity Accra, Ghana.

                                         2. Dr. Peter Ozo –Ezon,

                                              Chief Economist, Nigeria Labour Congress Headquarter, Abuja  .

                                         3. Dr. Dipo Fasina

                                              Former President, Academic Staff Union of Universities.

                                         4. Prof. Etannibi Alemika

                                              Department Of Sociology, University of Jos.

                                         5. Comrade Isa Aremu

                                              Vice president, Nigeria Labour Congress.

                                         6. Mrs. Ngozi Iwere

                                              Coordinator, Community Life Project.

                                         7. Alhaji Hamid Taju

                                              Former Executive Director, Union Bank Plc

                                         8. Dr. Joe Okei – Odumakin

                                              President

                                              Campaign for Democracy

CHAIRMAN OF THE EVENT:

                                              Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole, mni, CON

                                              Governor of Edo State

For further enquiries, contact:   e-mail: onimodecolloquium@yahoo.com

                                                                Tel: Prof. Etannibi Alemika: 08037040435,

Dr. Aderemi Medupin: 08033175401,

Adoga Sulaiman Ibrahim: 08023159852,

Denja Yaqub: 08033852251

              Dr. Bandele Onimode: 08077634188  

THE PROFESSOR BADE ONIMODE MEMORIAL COMMITTEE

Invites The Public To

The 10^th Year Memorial Colloquium in Honour of Late Prof. Bade Onimode

THEME:  Contemporary Socio –Economic and Political Issues In Nigeria and Africa

DATE:           10^th December 2011

TIME:           10AM

VENUE:        Nostalgia Hotel, LOKOJA, KOGI STATE

GUEST SPEAKER:  Ogbeni  Rauf Aregbesola
                                                     Governor of Osun State

SPEAKERS:                 1. Comrade Hassan Sunmonu
                                                         Secretary General

                                                Organisation of African Trade Union Unity
                                                         Accra, Ghana

                                     2. Dr. Peter Ozo - Eson

                                                Chief Economist

                                         Nigeria Labour Congress Headquarter

                                         Abuja  

                                                                                     

                                           3. Dr. Dipo Fasina

                                           Former President,

                                           Academic Staff Union of Universities

                                       4. Prof. Etannibi Alemika

                                           Dept. Of Sociology

                                            University of Jos

                                         5. Comrade Isa Aremu

                                              Vice president

                                               Nigeria Labour Congress

                                           6. Mrs. Ngozi Iwere

                                               Coordinator,

                                               Community Life Project

                                            7. Alhaji Hamid Taju

                                                Former Executive Director

                                                 Union Bank Plc

                                             8. Dr. Joe Okei – Odumakin

                                                  President

                                                  Campaign for Democracy

CHAIRMAN OF THE EVENT: Comrade Adams Oshiomhole,  

                                                                        Governor of Edo State

For further enquiries, contact:   e-mail: onimodecolloquiu@yahoo.com

Tel: 08033852251, 08023159852, 08033175401, 08037040435, 08077634188  

                  

NLC's Press Statement on the Report of the Senate Adhoc Committee on Privatisation

1^st December 2011

PRESS STATEMENT

PRIVATISATION PROBE: WE SALUTE THE SENATE

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has watched with keen interest the ongoing debate on the report of the Senate Adhoc Committee that probed the privatisation of public enterprises. We have noted some of the salient recommendations of the Committee, and strongly back the Senate’s debate and hope that the patriotic spirit displayed so far will lead to positive outcomes in the interest of workers and the Nigerian people.

We commend the Senate on its decisive position on the issue. Particularly, we back the Senate indictment of all past and present Director Generals of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE)

The summary of the debate in the Senate tallies with the position of the NLC that the privatisation programme lacks transparency and was built on fraud, criminality and bare-faced theft of the country’s wealth. A few examples of such blatant criminality and connivance were aptly reflected in the sale of NITEL Plc and Transcorp Hilton Hotel to a conspiratorial gang in government and the private sector masquerading as Corporate Nigeria.

The failure of the privatisation gambit can be seen in the fact that over ninety percent of the companies privatized have either collapsed or are in worse conditions than they were before being privatised. Obviously, the privatisation programme has been characterised by asset striping and sometimes complete closure of privatised companies, like what obtains in the iron and steel industry.

What we consider to be more criminal is that the funds realised from privatisation over the years have not been accounted for.

Nigerians do not know how much has been realised so far from the privatisation programmeor what the funds have been used for. Also, workers in these privatised companies were severely shortchanged with many of them not being paid their statutory severance benefits. This has been the case in NITEL, Daily Times, among others.

The NLC backs the call by the Senators for the review of the privatisation programme and reversal of all those privatised companies that are found to have been sold without transparency and adherence to laid down procedures and global best practices.

We demand that all those indicted or might be indicted in this criminal process should be brought to book.

Some of these criminal elements who had obtained public enterprises through fraudulent means, and are hoping to manipulate the process through the powers that be and legalism to save their necks, should bury their heads in shame

The Labour Movement and the working people will mobilise Nigerians to check this subterfuge and will not rest until justice is done on this issue.

We salute the Senate on the remarkable work it has done so far, and urge the Senators to remain undeterred, focused, and courageous in this important national assignment.

Chris Uyot

Head of Information and Public Relations

SUSPENSION OF STUDENTS UNIONISM IN LASU UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND UNDEMOCRATIC

If the Action Congress of Nigeria is to be taken serious as Nigeria's most credible opposition political party, I suggest the party should develop a good democratic standard that will guide state governments on its platform to provide good examples of how a democratic society should be run.

 

To start with, the Lagos State Government should urgently remind the Senate of the Lagos State University (LASU) that Nigeria is no longer under military dictatorship and therefore, under Section 40 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, every citizen have a guaranteed right of association. The Senate of LASU has no right to suspend Students Union activities in LASU; and the students have every right, like every other citizen of Nigeria, to protest against any policy considered to be against their collective interests.

 

The Senate of LASU fell short of a good example of a citadel of qualitative intellectual development by its obvious intolerant disposition to opposing ideas.

 

So, if students disagree with the institution or whatever agency or organ introduced the contentious hike in school fees, the next thing is to proscribe or suspend the Students Union? This is not right.

 

The performance of the Lagos State Government so far has elicited wide applause across the country and beyond and the undemocratic dispositions of the Senate of LASU will sure rub on the success of the ACN Government in the delivery of good governance.

 

THE SUSPENSION OF STUDENTS UNION ACTIVITIES IN LASU SHOULD BE LIFTED IMMEDIATELY. IT IS ABSOLUTELY UNCONSTITUTIONAL, UNDEMOCRATIC AND CLEARLY AN INFRINGEMENT OF THE RIGHTS OF ALL THE STUDENTS UNDER SECTION 40 OF OUR CONSTITION.

LATEST FROM THE CIVIL SOCIETY COMMUNITY. ACTION BEGINS ON FUEL SUBSIDY

OCCUPY NIGERIA KICKS OFF............

The Occupy Nigeria project of citizens groups committed to cleansing our society and nation of maladministration; political and administrative ineptitude and incompetence; as well as the impunity that drives, cordones and revels in corruption and imposing hardships on ordinary Nigerians begins in ernest from tomorrow, thursday, 1st of Dec 2011.

Occupy Nigeria begins with a series of Anti- Fuel price increase protests in Ogun and Edo states tomorrow....Angry, determined and committed citizens will Occupy the Streets of Benin and Abeokuta in a very clear message to this anti people government that ENOUGH IS ENOUGH: We shall not sit idle and allow you mess up our lives and destroy the future for our youths and children.
...
The United Action for Democracy will also be addressing a press conference tomorrow to kick off the Occupy Nigeria process.

The Occupy Nigeria process is actively supported and promoted by the We The People Campaign, an initiative of the United Action For Democracy [UAD].

If you are in any of these cities on the 1st of Dec 2011 please come out massively to join the protests and demonstrate to this regime that we not only opposed to removal of so-called subsidy and the consequent unconscionable hiking of the prices of petroleum products; We are also determined to resist and oppose it, and we shall not wait for them to increase fuel prices before we take defensive measures to protect our living conditions!

Other Nigerians prepare yourselves and organise and mobilise to take action in different cities across the country in the coming days and weeks.

We have one simple comprehensive demand: declare a state of emergency in the energy sector, develop and implement a 3 year strategic development plan for the sector, backed by legislation [A Social Contract with Nigerians], breach of which is punishable [can be an impeachable offence], and focused on the following; restore adequate domestic refining capacity sufficient to meet our domestic needs and export to the West African market; undertake an independent probe of the sector to identify economic saboteurs, and the criminals responsible for the parlous state of the refineries and siphoning/looting of public funds poured into the sector since 1999; Ensure examplary punishment to culprits as a deterrant to others; gradually reduce importation as domestic refining capacity is enhanced; and undertake all of these with fuel prices remaining at current rates over the 3 year emergency period.

Surely this should not be too difficult for any responsible government to undertake?

ORGANISE NOW! MOBILISE NOW!! ACT NOW!!!

 

From Jaiye Gaskiya, National Coordinator of the United Action for Democracy (UAD).

NGOs HAVE BEEN RECRUITED TO DECIEVE NIGERIAN PEOPLE ABOUT OIL SUBSIDY REMOVAL

Rather than talk to people directly, the Jonathan Government seems to have hired some Nigerian NGOs, some of them have just been created, to market the unpopular plan to increase fuel prices.

Maybe, that's Mr. President's way of creating jobs for the youth, afterall very many of them have been looking for decent jobs without success, so if they chose to have a share, even if very temporary, of the resources allocated to market an unmarketable policy we can only remind them that partaking in any way by any means in any process that will further mortgage our collective future is historically self destructive.

All those who have worked with the oppressor against the people while pretending to be with the people historically end up dumped, rejected by both sides, and eventually destroyed.

The state of the Nigerian economy and education has completely distorted the values that existed up to the early 80s when Ibrahim Babangida invaded campuses and destroyed intellectual discourse through the tactical ban on sympossia, radical campus based organisations and harrassment of radical teachers who were ''teaching what they were not paid to teach''. Even students unionism was not spared. We used to have serious Students Unions, now what exists are Students Union GOVERNMENT with the officials also having Personal Assistants, Special Assistants etc.

I was ashamed listening to one guy who claimed to have been a former President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) at a programme organised by one of such NGOs yesterday in Abuja. He declared his support for ''subsidy'' removal, which is definitely his right, but painfully this former NANS President could not say anything to further convince the audience to support ''subsidy'' removal except telling us that he was with Mr. President the night before. He was as tactless as the organisers.

I wonder why government keeps making the same mistake over and over again each time there are contentious policies eliciting the anger of the citizens. The next thing they do is to hire some empty characters, throw some insulting crumbs at them and fire them unto the streets to deceive people. It has never worked and it will never work. The path of honour and self esteem is to talk to people directly. Why waste public funds on some directionless people who ordinarily should have been engaged in productive and more fulfilling jobs.

We should all be vigilant, and take more time to find out those behind events we are invited to in future.

Is it not a shame that while our government is lying to us about the impossibility of building or even repairing our refineries, neighboring ''poor'' Niger Republic successfully built a state of the art refinery which was commissioned three days ago? President Jonathan was even represented at the commissioning by a Nigerian State Governor.

We simply have a ruling class that is grossly deficient in intellect, inept in governance and crude in corruption. They lack honour and self esteem. Their quest for private accumulation of public property has befuddled their ability to even have some respect for their personal names, which obviously means nothing to them.

They are prepared to steal and steal and steal and get regularly mentioned in the news media as thieves, while they keep roaming about in siren blaring convoys. Absolutely shameless thieves.

How did we get here for God's sake?
We need to keep organising the oppressed for the revolution, which is the only solution that can rescue our country from the grips of these crass, inept, hollow, corrupt, shameless opportunists who, when added up, are just 1% of the Nigerian population.
ARISE, NIGERIANS AND BE PREPARED TO OCCUPY THE STREETS. Chikena!