SOCIALIST
PARTY OF NIGERIA (SPN)
The Socialist Party of Nigeria (SPN) is
a political party formed by socialists, trade unionists, workers, youths and
student activists.
The party is open to all Nigerian
citizens of 18 years of age and above who do not belong to any other political
party. SPN hopes to replace the existing dispensation of poverty, hunger,
homelessness, joblessness, illiteracy, underdevelopment and suffering amidst
plenty with equitable and democratic use of Nigeria's abundant human and
natural resources for the collective benefit of all citizens.
The SPN therefore aims to serve as a
platform to defend peoples' interest through policies and programs that will
reverse the growing inequality in the society. A democratically elected SPN
government will focus on the needs of the people unlike the existing order
where pursuit of profit and greed overrides the welfare of the people.
(2)
OUR VISION
The Socialist Party of Nigeria (SPN) is
founded on the ideals of Freedom, Equality and Social Justice. The vision of
the Socialist Party of Nigeria (SPN) is partly summed up by Chapter 2 of the
1999 Constitution which clearly spells out among other things that "The
State shall direct its policy towards ensuring that the material resources of the
nation are harnessed and distributed as best as possible to serve the common
good;". We believe that faithful implementation of Chapter 2 of the
Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria can be a starting point for the
reversal of Nigeria's age-long underdevelopment and unrealisation of the
potentials of its vast human and natural resources for the betterment of its
citizens.
In essence, the SPN plans to build a new
Nigeria where no one will be poor, hungry, illiterate, homeless or jobless. SPN
believes that Nigeria's vast agricultural and mineral resources and human
capital are sufficient to guarantee a decent life for all Nigerians. Under the
present unjust system of capitalism, the profit of a few is prioritized over
the needs of the mass majority, hence a situation where just 1% consumes over
80% of oil wealth while the majority of Nigerians scramble for the rest 20%.
Even official statistics shows that the vast majority of Nigerians live below 2
dollars a day! The level of poverty amongst Nigerians is said to be one of the
highest in the world despite being the world's sixth largest exporter of crude
oil. Nothing in the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
supports this condition of mass poverty amidst plenty which a majority of
Nigerians are subjected to.
Therefore to reverse this unwelcome
trend and provide the best possible living standards and a happy and harmonious
life for all citizens of this country, an SPN government shall in compliance
with the provisions of Chapter 2 particularly Section 16 (Subsections 1C and
2C) of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria bring the key
sectors of the economy and the Nigeria's enormous mineral and agricultural
resources under public ownership and democratic management to serve the common
good of the people
(3)
OUR MISSION
The SPN will be the political party of
Nigerian people with the mission to partake in elections and all lawful civil activities through which we hope to win
political power so as to begin in earnest the building of a new Nigeria where
the interest of the majority will form the basis of governance and economy.
PROGRAMMES
If elected, the Socialist Party of
Nigeria (SPN) shall democratically evolve policies and programs in compliance
with the provisions of the 1999 constitution to ensure the rapid growth and
development of the national wealth and their judicious distribution to ensure
the common good of all. In particular we shall implement to the letter the
provisions of Chapter 2 of the 1999 constitution which in details spells out
the fundamental directive principles of the state as the control of "the
national economy in such manner as to secure the maximum welfare, freedom and
happiness of every citizen on the basis of social justice and equality of
status and opportunity". This the SPN shall do along with other policies
in different spheres of our national economy with the sole aim and intention of
promoting the common good, barnishing poverty, illiteracy, joblessness and
homelessness and, while defending the environment, ensuring the rapid
industrialisation of Nigeria and the happiness of all citizens.
In addition, an SPN government shall
take steps in consultation and deliberation with the people to implement the
following policies which are partly derived from the directive principles of
the State as provided for in the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria as well as the democratic socialist philosophy of the Socialist Party
of Nigeria (SPN):
(1)
EDUCATION
According to Chapter 2 section 18 (1) of
the 1999 constitution, "Government shall direct its policy towards
ensuring that there are equal and adequate educational opportunities at all
levels". In compliance with this and in order to speedily eradicate the
shameful incidence of mass illiteracy which grips millions of our citizens like
a cankerworm, an SPN government will make education free at all levels with due
consideration of the fact that this is very practicable now.
In saying this, we are mindful of the
terrible state in which previous and present governments both military and
civilians have put the education system. In a deliberate attempt to run down
public schools and promote private schools, governments at all levels have
continually reduced funding for education. This has in turn led to a situation
of continuous deterioration of infrastructures, overcrowding of classrooms,
inadequate teaching personnel, poor welfare of workers in the sector etc.,
leaving those who do not have the means to accept the condition in the public
schools or seek private alternatives, which are largely unaffordable for the
masses. Even the meager funds budgeted are most times not properly accounted
for by those in positions of authorities and so under bureaucratic management,
improved funding does not guarantee quality education.
Socialists see education not only as a
method of adding to the efficiency of production, but also as a method of
producing fully developed human beings. SPN will strive to place education
vis-à-vis the management of schools under the management and supervision of
elected education workers, parents, students and the communities so that funds
will be well managed and maximally utilized according to needs.
Through this democratic public education
system, there will be expansion of schools and facilities while recruitment of
teachers and non-teaching staff will be accorded priority. Education will be
made a right and not the privilege of a few. SPN stands for an immediate and
dramatic expansion of the number of teachers, so that no class size is greater
than 35. Children of public officers under SPN government will attend the same
schools with children of workers and the poor.
To achieve this we shall pursue the
following as immediate steps:
(a) Scrapping
of all fees including tuition and other charges; Provision of free education at primary, secondary and tertiary
levels
(b) Adequate
funding of public education to the level of guaranteeing quality and functional education at all levels.
(c) A
crash programme to implement a class size not more than 35 in every primary and
secondary school.
(d) A
crash programme to build standard, modern and well-equipped primary and secondary schools across the country to
increase enrolment.
(e) A
special focus to increase enrollment of the girl-child, improve education
access for nomads, physically-challenged and other socially-disadvantaged
groups in society
(f) A
democratically planned and equitable admission policy based on genuine
education needs of all Nigerians and not the present arrangement, which
encourages ethnic division and marginalization.
(g) Improvement
of teaching facilities in all schools across the country, including upgrading
and provision of modern libraries, laboratories, lecture theatres and decent
hostel facilities.
(h) Running
of Schools by a democratically elected committee of teachers, representatives
of school management, representatives of parents and the community where these
schools are located.
(I) A
review of the present national education policy and curriculum through a
democratic process involving teachers, students and parents to produce a new
policy and curriculum that makes education functional by linking the process of
learning with the economy; also providing considerable local flexibility where
pupil and teacher innovation are encouraged.
(j) Payment
of living wage to all teaching and non-teaching staff and provision of
opportunities and facilities for research and re-training.
(k) Retention
of all staff and a crash program to employ more teachers, non-teaching staff
and lecturers.
(l) Full
respect of the democratic rights of students and staff to form and organize
unions without interference from the state.
(m) Introduction
of free and functional adult education to eradicate adult illiteracy.
(n)
SPN elected public officials
to send their children to public schools.
(2)
HEALTH CARE
According to Chapter 2 section 15 (b), "the
security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of
government". Today in Nigeria aside from ethno-religious crisis, accidents
and crimes which daily claim lives, diseases and poor health condition are one
of the greatest threat to the security and welfare of Nigerians. The public
hospitals have been neglected by the successive governments in compliance with
the IMF/World Bank Policies of cuts in social spending thereby leaving the poor
and those incapable of paying for expensive private health care to their fate.
This has led to a sad situation in which poor Nigerians with curable diseases
die prematurely because they could not afford the cost of health care and
oversea treatment. Nigeria despite its huge resources has one of the worst
cases of maternal and infant mortalities in the world.
In compliance with the provision of the
constitution under Chapter 2 Section 17 subsection 3 (c) "that the State
shall direct its policy towards ensuring that there are adequate medical and
health facilities for all persons", an SPN government shall implement the
following:
a. Making
health care free for all and at the point of use.
b. Striving
to see that the ratio of health workers to patients is brought to the barest minimum through employment of adequate
and well remunerated health
personnel.
c. Reversing
the infrastructural decay in public hospitals and construction of new hospitals, clinics and health centres in
order to meet the needs of the people
whose population is growing and expanding are necessary and vital.
d. Massive
expansion of standard primary and secondary health care system, as a way of reversing the ugly trend of
overcrowding of tertiary and specialist health care centres that should attend
to special cases and research works.
e. Prioritizing
preventive healthcare with provision and expansion of sanitary facilities and
services
f. Mandating
SPN's political office holders and members of their families to patronize public hospitals as a means of
ensuring sustainable quality.
(3)
HOUSING
There is a painful scourge ravaging
Nigerians; that is the scourge of mass homelessness. This is a betrayal of the
Chapter 2 of the 1999 constitution and the social contract. At least ten
million houses are needed to put decent shelter over the heads of millions of
the poor and working people and stop them from living in substandard houses and
even under bridges or open places. To effectively address this scourge requires
faithful implementation of the directive principles of State Policy as
enshrined in Chapter 2 of the 1999 constitution as well as other policies and
programs aimed to ensure the total well-being of Nigerian citizens.
SPN will embark on massive public works
programme on housing which will be rented to Nigerians at affordable rates. One
major problem in the construction industry is the growing cost of
building/constructing materials like cement, iron rod etc due to the existing
private ownership of industries in the sector.
In order to drastically reduce the cost
of construction an SPN government will:
a. Embark
on massive public works programme on decent and affordable housing
b. In
line with Section 16 Subsection 1 (C), (D) and Section 2 (A) of Chapter 2 of
the 1999 constitution and after due consultation with the people, nationalize
the private cement companies and big construction companies and place them
under public democratic control and management in order to ensure that the
unhealthy monopoly and speculations which exist in the construction, property
and housing sector is dismantled such that cheap, affordable housing can be
provided by government to reverse the shameful scourge of mass homelessness
afflicting millions of our citizens. Adequate compensation shall be paid to
deserving former owners of these companies and firms. This pro-people approach
will be anchored on planning of resources and production to meet the needs of
all.
c. Massively
invest in building materials like cement, iron, sand, wood etc., as a means to
reduce construction costs.
d. Provide
low interest rate for private builders under public democratic scrutiny to
adhere to set standards and prevent profiteering.
(4)
ELECTRICITY
Electricity is very crucial to
industrial development and job creation. Its importance for household is also
enormous. No sector of the economy can survive without it. The poor state of electricity means that
artisans, business organizations, schools, hospitals, etc rely on generator run
on expensive and sometimes scarce fuel in order to remain in operation. But this means high cost of doing business,
and high prices of goods and services as energy contributes more than 40
percent of the cost of doing business.
This high cost of energy has led to the collapse of many small and big
companies with some relocating from the country to survive. Many artisans have also closed shops and the
cost of living for families have become high and unbearable.
The SPN strongly holds that the
electricity sector which is one of the "major sectors of the economy"
as defined under Chapter 2 of the 1999 constitution can be efficient and
guarantee cheap electricity if kept public. The SPN will achieve this by:
a. Re-nationalisation
of the electricity sector. Placing all electricity generation, transmission and
distribution companies under the democratic control and management of elected
committees of workers, consumers and representatives of the government in order
to ensure that public resources spent to improve the power sector is not
mismanaged or looted. What this means is that instead of a few bureaucrats appointed
by the government to run public utilities and enterprises, decisions must be
taken among rank-and-file workers and consumers elected into management
committees at local government, state and national levels with the mandate to
oversee the affairs of the power sector in compliance with the needs of the
people and economy.
b. Investing public resources to embark
on comprehensive program of electrification of rural and urban areas in the
country and ensure the provision of adequate and affordable electricity for
both domestic and industrial use
c.
Investing in research and technology on environment-friendly means of
generating electricity such as wind, solar and wave power while phasing out
fossil fuels (gas, coal, oil, etc.) which do not only damage the environment
but are also non-renewable sources of energy.
(5)
ENVIRONMENTAL QUESTION
In accordance with the provisions of
Section 20 of Chapter 2 of the 1999 constitution which says that 'The State
shall protect and improve the environment and safeguard the water, air and
land, forest and wildlife of Nigeria", the SPN as an environment-friendly
party will ensure that no project will be undertaken without conducting a
comprehensive and genuine environmental impact assessment. Such assessment will
be conducted by elected representatives of affected communities working with
relevant professionals. This will ensure that the needs and safety of the
people take precedent over profit or self-serving interest in the execution of
projects. The SPN will ensure:
a. The
provision of adequate and efficient drainage system to prevent flooding.
b. The
development of well-planned housing policies that do not only guarantee
affordable and decent housing but also prevent flooding.
c. Investment
in research and technology on the mitigation of effects of climate change as
well as its adaptation
d. That
oil pollution is a rarity by ensuring the immediate and comprehensive clean-up
as well as adequate compensation when there is pollution. This is bearing in
mind that the major feature of oil producing communities is the pollution of water and land which does not
only make fishing and farming, the traditional occupation of the locals,
extremely difficult but also make the environment unsafe and living unbearable
e. Development
of policies to confront the challenges of desertification and deforestation.
f. Maximum
utilization of gas and stoppage of gas flaring.
g. In
line with the provisions of Section 17 subsection 1(d) of Chapter 2 of the 1999
constitution which says "exploitation of human or natural resources in any
form whatsoever for reasons, other than the good of the community, shall be
prevented", an SPN government will strive to implement environmental
policies that will not be at expense of safety and food security or driven by
profit interests of corporate organizations. For instance, agrofuel is said to
be more environment friendly than fossil fuel but
its production at commercial quantity involves several tonnes of grains that
could serve as food.
(6)
TRANSPORTATION
The transportation system in Nigeria is
in terrible state. The roads are mostly bad; the railway is largely
non-functional and archaic; water transportation is largely unexplored despite
the potential while air transportation is in such bad conditions that air
mishaps have become a frequent occurrence. Yet transportation contributes
immensely to production and exchange. It links different parts of country and
connects agriculture to industry and markets.
Hence, the transportation of human and goods is a top priority for the
SPN.
Therefore in line with Section 15
subsection 3 (a) which provides that it shall be the duty of the State to
"provide adequate facilities to encourage free mobility of people, goods
and services throughout the Federation, the SPN shall pursue the following
policy and program on Road Transportation:
a. Construction
of roads through publicly owned companies which are placed under the democratic
control and management of working people. The companies will be adequately
equipped and manned by qualified personnel.
b. Investment
in public road transportation companies under workers and communities
democratic control as a means to end corrupt practices while engendering
efficiency.
c. Massive
building and maintenance of communities, villages, towns and cities link roads.
RAILWAY
Railway transportation is key to
industrialization because of its capacity to move large goods and passengers
from one place to another. Modern railway transportation is faster than road
and more effective in densely populated cities. The SPN shall pursue the
following policy and program on railway Transportation:
a. Modernizing
the present railway network and connecting strategic parts of the country.
b. Investing
massively in the Nigeria Railway Corporation under democratic management and control of workers,
professionals and unions in the industry.
AIR TRANSPORTATION
Nigerian airports lack functional and
modern facilities for efficient and safe air travel. The aviation industry
itself is dominated by private interests who readily compromise safety and
standards because of profit considerations. The SPN shall pursue the following
policy and program on Air Transportation:
a. Resurrection
of Nigeria Airways with massive investment in modern aircrafts on its fleet.
b. The
employment of the right set of experts and workers on living wage and
introduction of democratic management and control by workers and passengers.
c. Massive
public investment and improvement in the facilities at the airports across the
country.
d. All
necessary measures to guarantee safe air travel and a viable aviation sector
which is not driven by blind pursuit of profit at the expense of safety.
WATER TRANSPORTATION
Water transportation is necessary for
transportation of goods and passengers in riverside communities.
The SPN shall pursue the following:
a. Investment
in big and small boats to enhance movement of passengers and aid fishing.
b. Investment
in publicly owned shipping lines to enhance cargo transportation.
(7) AGRICULTURE
Agriculture has suffered massive neglect
despite the fact that it used to be the mainstay of the Nigerian economy until
the 1970's. Farming is largely carried out with backward tools while most
farmers lack basic training and knowledge required to move the sector forward.
For the few farmers who farm for commercial purpose, about 30% of produce get
spoilt because of lack of storage while most farmers farm for subsistence. The
same is for livestock farmers.
Agriculture is one major avenue for raw
materials that feed industry, hence, without a viable and highly mechanised
agriculture, there cannot be a strong industry. And one major militating factor
is the lack of basic infrastructure like power, good road network, etc. For
instance, lack of power makes production and storage very expensive, and hence
contributes to the continued collapse of factories.
To achieve a viable agriculture sector,
SPN shall pursue the following policies:
a. Rural
and urban electrification to guarantee 24 hours energy supply.
b. Investment
in publicly owned plantations which are democratically run, and encouragement
of cooperatives among farmers in different areas.
c. Cheap
loans for farmers and public funded training of farmers.
d. Renting
of mechanized farming tools to poor farmers at cheap rate; provision of seeds
and fertilizers at affordable rate.
e. Improvement
in cash crop farming and export without endangering food security.
f. Linking
of education with agriculture and industry in terms of training and research.
g. Provision
of good road networks between the rural and urban areas.
(8)
INDUSTRIALIZATION
a. In
line with the provisions of the 1999 constitution which says states that the
State shall "harness the resources of the nation and promote national
prosperity and an efficient, a dynamic and self-reliant economy;" an SPN
government shall diversify the economy away from the mono-economy of the past
decades. This will entail massive investment in agriculture, industry
mining, tourism, etc.
b. SPN
shall strive to achieve local production of most products needed for self-sufficiency
in our own country through research in science and technology.
c. SPN
will ensure massive investment in the steel industry especially Ajaokuta steel
and other steel companies under public ownership with democratic management and
control of workers
d. SPN
shall resurrect the textile industry as well as other areas of industry where Nigeria has and could achieve viable
growth and self-sufficiency.
e. In
order to achieve a planned and balanced economic development, SPN will strive
to reverse the mono-economic status of Nigeria as an exporter of raw materials
to exporter of both raw materials and industrial products to correct trade
imbalance.
(9) EMPLOYMENT
Unemployment is a rising phenomenon. As
of 2011 about 40 million Nigerians are unemployed while millions are still
under-employed. Unemployment among the youths is put at 42%.
To reverse this trend, an SPN government
will impement all the provisions of Section 17, subsection 3 (a - g) under
Chapter 2 of the 1999 constitution. Additionally an SPN government will strive
to achieve the following:
a. Massive
investment in the expansion of infrastructure, facilities and productive
capacity to be able to mop up unemployment.
b. To
End casualization and the new casualised job schemes recently introduced by
governments and private employers where youths are employed on poverty wages
and work under slavish conditions.
c. Creation
of decent, well-paid jobs with good condition of service and trade union
rights.
d. Payment
of adequate unemployment benefit to those without a job and welfare benefits
for the unemployed, sick and elderly.
e. Full
employment for all able-bodied men and women who desire to work and a work-study opportunity for young people.
f. Public
works programme under democratic control that will speedily and steadily reduce
unemployment.
g. Implement
a national minimum wage in all sectors of N52,200, first demanded by the
Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in December 2008; to be reviewed upward
periodically to match the rate of inflation and cost of living.
(10)
CORRUPTION
Corruption thrives when resources are
undemocratically and bureaucratically managed. Only open and democratic
management of resources, production, services and exchange can guarantee
accountability, transparency and probity. While it is reported that over $140
billion was looted between 1999 and 2009 in Nigeria by the political elite, it
is noteworthy that this is aside the officially sanctioned pilfering, where 17,
474 political office holders have collected or allocated to themselves as
'salaries and emoluments' over N6 trillion since 2006. This is not to mention
corruption perpetrated through the privatization and commercialization
policies, pro-big business trade and economic policies (e.g. bail out of banks,
fraudulent loan policies, etc).
An SPN government will immediately implement
the provision of Section 15 subsection 5 Chapter 2 of the 1999 constitution
which expressly states that "The State shall abolish all corrupt practices
and abuse of power". This will be
achieved through the following policies:
a. Democratically
elected public tribunals comprising elected representatives of workers,
peasants, farmers, students, professionals and the government to determine
cases of corruption and prosecute indicted persons.
b. Investment
of public tribunals with the power to recover all stolen wealth since 1960 by confiscating properties of past
political office holders, which were
illegally acquired with stolen wealth, and convert them to the use of the
public.
c. Rejection
of all jumbo allowances and salaries of political office holders. Abolition of convoys and other means of
unconscionable extravagance and wastage of the national wealth. All public
office holders under an SPN government will earn the average wage of a skilled
civil servant and have all expenses publicly listed.
d. Subjection
of public office holders to recall by a sinple majority of the voters/people
they represent.
e. Democratic
management of all public departments, agencies, and companies through
committees comprising elected representatives of workers and the government.
(11)
DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS
In order to truly build a better
Nigeria, democracy must be fully practised without fear or favour. In this
wise, an SPN government shall see to the immediate and full implementation of
Section 14, Section 15 subsection 2 - 4, Section 16 subsection 2 (d), Section
17 subsection 2 (a - e) and Section 22 of Chapter 2 of the 1999 constitution of
the Federal Republic of Nigeria. In addition, an SPN government shall also
pursue the following:
a. Recognition
of the right to a national minimum living wage, suitable and adequate shelter, suitable and adequate food,
education, health, social security including old age care and pensions, and
unemployment, sick benefits and welfare of the disabled
b. Immediate
and unconditional reinstatement of all politically motivated sack/expulsion of
workers/students and end to the victimization of workers/trade unionists and
student activists.
c. Defense
of the right to demonstrate and strike.
d. Trial
of those responsible for human rights abuse during military and civilian rule
and adequate compensation for the victims.
e.
Immediate repeal of all undemocratic and anti-labour laws
f.
Abolition of discrimination against women. Equal political, civil,
property and social rights for women. Equal pay for work of equal value without
discrimination on account of sex, or any other ground whatsoever.
g. Freedom
of expression, association and assembly. Full freedom and independence for
trade unions and student bodies without interference from state or management.
h. A
genuine multi-party democracy with the right of every individual and groups to
organize political parties. The right to stand for election as independent
candidates.
i. Democratic
control of the police and full democratic and trade union rights for police and
military personnel. Decent accommodation and a living wage for all police and
military personnel as part of the fight against corruption.
j. Right
of all ethnic nationalities to self-determination.
k. Support
for the call for the convocation of a truly Sovereign National Conference (SNC)
compromising elected representatives of social groups such as workers, peasant
farmers, traders rank and file of the
armed forces and police, professionals and ethnic nationalities according to
their numerical strength to deliberate and decide on the way forward for the country
and to draw up a new constitution for Nigeria.
l. International
solidarity against oppression, exploitation and imperialist wars
(12)
ECONOMY
Section 16 subsection 2 (c) of Chapter 2
of the 1999 constitution states that the State shall direct its policy towards
ensuring "that the economic system is not operated in such manner as to
permit the concentration of wealth or the means of production and exchange in
the hands of few individuals or of a group". In order to provide the
resources to build a more equitable society, the Socialist Party of Nigeria
(SPN) shall faithfully implement this provision of the constitution by:
a. Nationalizing
the major sectors of the economy under public democratic control and management with compensation
paid to former owners on the basis of proven need.
b. Democratic
management and control of public companies and parastatals by committees
comprising elected representatives of workers, consumers, trade unions and the
government.
d. End
to policies of privatization, commercialization, deregulation, hike in fuel price, retrenchment of workers, etc
which go contrary to the spirit and letters of Chapter 2 of the 1999
constitution. Workers will not be retrenched but
be constantly retrained to be able to function in a changing environment.
e. Embarking
on a public works programme to build roads, houses, railways, schools and
hospitals in order to create jobs and develop public infrastructures
h. Implementing
a system of progressive taxation accompanied by effective measures to prevent tax evasion. Collections
of all taxes and payments owed to the Nigerian government by local and foreign
companies doing business in Nigeria.
i. Making
the interests of Nigerian citizens the primary determinant of government
economic policies.
