FOR A CONFERENCE OF TRADE UNIONISTS, SOCIALISTS AND ACTIVISTS NOW!
Press Statement
The Socialist Party of Nigeria (SPN) heartily
applauds the declaration of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) for
the "adoption of a socialist welfare state as against the current
capitalist system in Nigeria" (Leadership, Abuja – August 12, 2014).
Against the background of the predominant
pro-capitalist philosophy reigning supreme within the trade union movement
bureaucracy in Nigeria, this declaration is like a silver lining in a darkened
sky.
Indeed, there can be no other solution to the
scandalous condition of mass poverty in the midst of prodigious wealth that
presently characterizes our dear country Nigeria than the socialist
transformation of the country through the public ownership and democratic
control and management by the working people of the mainstays of the economy
for the benefit of the mass majority.
For this to happen, the working class leading the
oppressed masses must come to power so as to be in a position to bring an end
to capitalism and begin to reorganize society along socialist lines.
In addition, we completely agree with ASUU that
"there is need for a genuine people's worker's party, organized with full
lessons from past efforts. The party must be organized to meet the challenges
of forging the building of a Nigeria where nations and individuals live in
freedom and happiness" (ThisDay – August 12, 2014).
The historical responsibility for carrying out
the above task is that of the trade union movement in Nigeria. Unfortunately,
the labour movement is Nigeria is dominated by a leadership that is incapable
of appreciating the urgent need for a political working class alternative to
the capitalist rot. This is fundamental reason why the Labour Party (LP), formed
by the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), was not
built by the labour movement but abandoned to political careerists and
anti-poor politicians such that the party is now almost indistinguishable from
other anti-poor political parties. Besides, the labour leadership has not only
abandoned building LP as a fighting working people party but has also openly
declared official support for various bourgeois anti-poor politicians
contesting elections.
In a certain way this development has politically
contributed to the throwback in consciousness within the labour movement in
particular and the working masses in general. And most unfortunately, as a
result of this state of affairs, the working class, the youth and poor masses
in the run-up to the 2015 general elections will have no political party to
represent and defend their interest. What this most certainly means is that the
present distasteful condition of mass poverty in an ocean of wealth which has
characterized the rule of capitalism is bound to continue after the 2015
elections to the detriment of the working masses and youth.
Notwithstanding this however, socialists, trade
unionists and activists who recognize the importance of a genuine mass workers
party must not be discouraged but unite and mobilize their forces to begin the
work of forming and building such a party before and after the 2015 general
elections in order to arm the working class with the weapon for the economic
and political liberation of the country. This is important as the first step to
begin to rebuild consciousness and win the entirety of the labour movement and
the working masses over to the idea of a socialist transformation of Nigeria.
It is in recognition of this crucial necessity
that members of the Democratic Socialist Movement (DSM) alongside with trade
unionists and activists formed the Socialist Party of Nigeria (SPN) last year.
Between then and now, the party has been able to surmount many of the
undemocratic obstacles erected by the electoral act and the Independent
National Electoral Commission (INEC) including the election of a 27-member
National Executive Committee (NEC) representing 24 States and the Federal
Capital Territory as required by the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic
of Nigeria (amended) and payment of N1million application fee. We have now
submitted an application for registration as a political party and are
hopefully awaiting INEC's response.
We urge ASUU to begin concrete moves to
practically actualize the Union's public declaration in support of "a
socialist welfare state". This could be achieved by convening a conference
of labour and socialist organizations as well as activists that subscribe to
socialist transformation of Nigeria in order to begin discussion for a
formation of a mass working people party to end capitalism in Nigeria and
enthrone a democratic socialist government. We believe ASUU commands enormous
goodwill and authority in the working people movement to successfully convene
the much-needed conference.
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