GOVT CAN SHUT DOWN IF IT MUST; IT WOULD BE GOOD RIDDANCE TO BAD
RUBBISH
On 4th September, 2013, the Minister of information
Mr. Labaran Maku in an attempt to give false impression that ASUU/FGN agreement
is not implementable, declared that government activities could shut
down if all demands of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) were to
be met. To us in the Education Rights Campaign (ERC), our simple response is:
government should shutdown if it must; it would simply be good riddance to bad
rubbish.
If this government could spend over N3 trillion between 2009 and now to
bail out failed banks and did not shut down; if this government could spend
over $1billion to buy over warlords and militants from Niger Delta under a
fraudulent amnesty program and yet did not go bankrupt; if this government
could spend annually a sum of N1.3 trillion on members of the National Assembly
and the economy is not leaking as a result; if the unconstitutional office of
the first lady could draw funds from public purse to finance her profligacies
and yet government has not shutdown; and finally if a small clique of
politicians and oil marketers could steal over $7billion from the oil subsidy
funds and the economy did not fail; then we fail to see the wisdom in Mr.
Labaran Maku's claim that spending just N500 billion annually on University
education is what would sink the ship of this government.
The minister has tried to use the excuse of spending on the war against
Boko Haram to justify government crass irresponsibility towards public
education. The reality however is that the fastest and most reliable antidote
to Boko Haram and other ethno-religious conflict in Nigeria is expanding social
services through increasing government investment in public education and job
creation. Only social justice, not guns, will win the war on terror.
The virulent corruption and anti-poor policies of this clueless capitalist
government has become so unbearable to the working masses and poor Nigerians
that if not for a lack of organisation and a bold revolutionary leadership,
this government should have been consigned to the dustbin of history a long
time ago, not least since January 2012.
Every section of the oppressed population has grown tired of the anti-poor
policies and failure of this government in the delivery of social programs like
education, healthcare, good roads, electricity, water, accommodation and most
importantly jobs. Therefore no one would mourn if this government shuts down,
instead Nigerians would heave a sigh of relief and jubilate.
Meanwhile, all these are propaganda by the government to blackmail
University lecturers and also prepare public opinion for an all-out assault to
break the strike. The ERC again restate its warnings to the government not to
attempt to break the strike. We call on the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and
the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to immediately declare a general strike and mass
protest in solidarity with ASUU.
The ERC urge ASUU to continue to stand firm and not to allow itself and its
members to be blackmailed. Already ASUU does not want to call for protests and
demonstrations because of government's accusations and blackmail that the opposition
have infiltrated ASUU. In January 2012 during the anti-fuel price struggle, the
government made similar accusations which led to the Nigeria Labour Congress
(NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to hastily call off the general strike. Today, Nigerians are the
worst for it.
Retreating in the face of government's propaganda and blackmail is never an
effective way to struggle and wearing padded gloves to engage in battle a
government armed with spiked cudgels is the fastest path to a devastating
defeat. By remaining on a sit-at-home strike instead of calling for mass
protests and demonstrations, ASUU is slowly yielding the ground for government
propaganda to sell.
Therefore, the ERC urge ASUU to boldly answer government blackmail of
infiltration by opposition with a call for a nationwide public demonstration to
show that not only is it still in firm control of its strike but that it is
also capable of unleashing a mass movement to compel this government to use
Nigeria's resources otherwise routinely looted to fund public education.
ASUU as a result of its history of defence of education has the credibility
and authority to lead a mass movement to save public education. Therefore ASUU
must name and begin to actively mobilise its members as well as all Nigerians who desire a permanent end to the crisis rocking Nigeria public education for a day for a nationwide mass protest and demonstration
to show to the government that if it continues its irresponsibility towards
public education, shutting down would be the least of its worries as it would
risk being kicked out by a mass movement.
________________________
Hassan Taiwo Soweto
National Coordinator
07033697259
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