DAY 18 OF #ENDOPPRESSION #ENDKILLINGS
11TH JUNE, 2021.
GOVERNOR EL-RUFAI SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR STUDENTS' KILLING IN KADUNA POLYTECHNIC.
NLC SHOULD COMMENCE 48 HOURS GENERAL STRIKE WITHOUT NOTICE ON 15TH JUNE, 2021.
I am now seized of media reports to the effect that gunmen attacked a Kaduna-based Polytechnic, killed a student and kidnapped lecturers on the night of Thursday, 10th June, 2021.
I am further seized that the gunmen attacked the Polytechnic by name, Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic in Zaria, shooting and kidnapping some staff and students. Media reports confirm that at least one person has been confirmed dead from the shooting.
I am seized of media reports to the effect that according to a statement issued by the Publicity Secretary of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP) of the institution, Aliyu Kofa, one student was killed while two lecturers of the polytechnic were kidnapped by the gunmen.
Mr. Kofa was reported to have stated that the names of the kidnapped lecturers as Habila Nasai of the General Studies department and Mal Adamu Shika of the Accounting department.
The official was also reported to have mentioned that the wife of another staff, Ahmed Abdu, and two of his children were kidnapped but released on Friday morning. He did not give neither provide more details on the release.
I am also seized of media reports that two students also sustained gunshot injuries from sporadic shootings by the kidnappers according to Mr. Kofa.
I am of the view that Governor El-Rufai should be held responsible for this unfortunate series of kidnappings and killings of students and workers in the state.
Apart from implementing anti-worker and anti-poor policies such as mass sack of workers, Governor El-Rufai recently took his attacks on the mass of working people in KADUNA State by canceling all undergraduate degree programmes in KADUNA State University, all because students have been occupying and protesting in the University for the astronomical increase in fee hike. It is needless to restate the unfortunate incident of the Greenfield University Kidnappings and killings where parents were left to their fate to bargain with kidnappers.
The neo-liberal policies of Governor El-Rufai has turned Kaduna State to an hellish Hobbesian state of nature, where life is brutish, nasty and short.
I call on the national leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress to activate the mandate given by the last NEC of the Congress to proceed with a general strike, without notice at the failure of Kaduna State Government to comply with the Agreement reached after the tulmotous strike and protests that grounded the state.
I am aware of the letter written by the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Ayuba Wabba to President Muhammadu Buhari notifying him of the mandate to proceed on nationwide strike without any further notice if the El-Rufai-led Kaduna State Government remains incalcitrant.
I hold that at the face of the persistent failure of the Governor El-Rufai-led Kaduna State Government to comply thereto to the Conciliation Agreement worked out by the Minister of Labour, the organs of the Congress should be mobilised forthwith to proceed on 48 HOURS warning nationwide general strike, without notice, from 15th June, 2021 after the holiday of Monday, 14th June, 2021.
While I hold fundamental differences with the clauses of the Conciliation Agreement where Labour agreed for application of the anti-worker redundancy provisions in the Labour Act, I am of the firm view that it is such full blown working class resistance is the language Governor El-Rufai and his fellow greedy Governors understand. I am of the view that the labour movement should prioritize the campaigning for the repealing of the extant anti-worker Labour laws.
In this disposition, the labour movement must realise that enactment of pro-worker laws will not come on the platter of gold. This again raises the question of a mass working people's political alternative through which genuine pro-worker parliamentarians can be elected. This will still need to be backed up with mass actions to the National Assembly to push through the pro-worker legislative proposals.
As the nation stands on the eve of the June 12, 2021 nationwide mass protests, the labour movement has an historical responsibility to the youth and Students' Movement in their battle against failure of the government to create jobs and guarantee security.
The proposed 48 hours general strike action from 15th June, 2021 should be a commencement of nationwide mass actions not only against job losses in Kaduna State but the failure of other Governors to pay minimum wage, ensure security and protection of lives and properties.
AYO ADEMILUYI ESQ.
Lagos,
09097933015.
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