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A radical programme of massive investment in public utilities will guarantee
gainful employment for youths
The attention of the Oyo State Chapter of Socialist
Party of Nigeria (SPN) has been drawn to the recent threat publicly issued by
Senator Abiola Ajimobi- the Oyo State Governor; in his speech delivered through
his representative, Alhaji Tajudeen Aremu, the Head of Service at the three-day
induction courses for the newly
recruited administrative and social welfare officers into the state civil
service, to immediately sack any of the newly recruited employee who is caught
hobnobbing with politicians.
We of the SPN absolutely frown at this statement as
it represents a continuous attempt by the ACN-led government in the state to
further the intimidation which every successive capitalist parties-led
government in the state often times carry out against civil servants from
preventing them in exercising their fundamental and democratic human right to
freedom of association and lawful assembly as guaranteed in the section 40 of
the 1999 constitution of the Federal republic of Nigeria (FGN).
Take for instance, the Supreme Court judgment in the
case of INEC VS MUSA and OTHERS [2003], held further on the validity of INEC
guideline to whether or not a civil servant can be a registered member of a
political parties. According to Muhammed Uwais, former Chief Justice of Nigeria
(RTD) on page 92 thereof "the
provisions of section 40 of the constitution are very clear. The import is
"every person" including public office holders and civil
servants……since section 40 of the 1999 Constitution has specifically allowed
every person the right to assemble and associate with any other person in order
to inter-allia form or belong to any political party for the protection of his
interest, I hold that both the provisions of section 79 subsection (2) (c) of
the Electoral Act, 2001 and guideline No. 5(b) are inconsistent with the
Constitution."
Given this background, it is very clear that every
person including public servants can form or belong to any political party for
the protection of his or her interest. In light of this we of SPN hereby call
on Ajimobi/ACN-led administration in the state to immediately reverse its earlier
decision to sack any of the newly recruited administrative and social welfare
officers as well as other public civil servants in the state who may be
interested, either now or in future, in forming or belonging to any political
party of their choice.
The idea of absorbing 58 members of the Youth
Empowerment Scheme of Oyo State popularly known as YES-O into the state civil
service is indeed a welcome development. However, this is just a token in
resolving the unemployment problem facing Oyo State in particular and the
country as a whole. Take for instance, at the launch of YES-O programme in 2011, over 350,000 youths applied for job
opportunity under this scheme within 23 days while only 20,000 of them were
taken without any plan for over 330,000 that could not be employed.
Therefore, to permanently curb the growing rate of
unemployment in our society requires a radical programme of massive investment in
establishment of industries; mechanizing agriculture as well as setting-up
agro-allied industries; expanding health care and educational facilities;
empowering the work department to be in complete charge of rehabilitation and
construction of roads, housing and bridges.
But as long as
Ajimobi/ACN -led government like its predecessors remain pro-capitalist in
nature where top government/party officials are real time parasites and
contractors, the idea of state massive investment in social infrastructures and
economic investment that can guarantee and secure adequate jobs for all
unemployed able-bodied youths will remain a pipe-dream..
This is the reason we
of the SPN often maintain that only a government formed on the basis of a
socialist programme where the commanding heights of the economy is nationalized
and placed under the democratic control and management of the working people
with the elected officers taken wages not more than that of average civil
servant. Only such a government can be truly and genuinely committed to
investing the resources of the society in social infrastructures and basic
social services like health and education through which adequate jobs
opportunities can be created for youths.
In light of
this, the SPN hereby calls on workers, students, unemployed
youths and artisans among others in Oyo State to join us and let us build a genuine
socialist alternative to the vicious cycle of misery and nightmare of current
iniquitous, anti-poor capitalist system being represented and defended by
Ajimobi/ACN-led government as well as other capitalist governments across the
country.
Abiodun Bamgboye
Protem Secretary Oyo State Chapter
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