Occupy-Nigeria
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http://saharareporters.com/news-page/occupy-nigeria-los-angeles-protest-scheduled-jan-14
Nigerians in Southern California (NISC) have announced
a solidarity meeting for Saturday, January 14 to decry
the oil subsidy removal by the government of President
Goodluck Jonathan
In a statement, today, the group sent a specific
message to Mr. Jonathan, reminding him that "A leader
who demands loyalty, but offers nothing in return
builds tyranny; and tyranny offers nothing but failure.
Empower every citizen, and you will gain strength.
Offer security and justice in the form of liberty,
allowing every citizen to be safe from conviction
without cause or prison without charge - to work, eat,
and live on the sweat of his or her own brow - and you
will be great. Not only will you receive the loyalty of
your people, but their love as well. GEJ, this is your
chance to be great - don't waste it. Lead from the heart."
Describing the hardship that removal of the oil subsidy
removal will bring to the average Nigerian, NISC said
the government should:
- Revamp all the refineries and build new ones;
- Provide regular power supply;
- Provide public transportation systems such as
railways;
- Repair the roads;
- Eliminate the corruption associated with supply and
distribution of petroleum products in
the downstream sector of the oil industry;
- Trim excess wages and entitlements allocated to high
government officials;
- Adhere to the rule of law;
- Be transparent;
- Be accountable;
- Govern well; and
- Lead by example
Saturday's rally, to which all Nigerians and their
friends are invited, will hold at10 A.M at: 6430 W
Sunset Blvd,
Building). _______________
Union Workers Protest Abrupt End to Fuel Subsidies in
AFL-CIO News
January 11, 2012
http://blog.aflcio.org/2012/01/10/unions-fight-abrupt-end-to-fuel-subsidies-in-nigeria/
Elizabeth Boomer of the AFL-CIO International Affairs
Department sends us this report.
Protestors rallied outside the World Bank building in
nation-wide strike opposing the soaring price of fuel.
After the government ended fuel subsidies Jan. 1,
prices doubled overnight. Today in
thousands marched in the streets across the country.
The
financial institutions that have long argued against
domestic fuel subsidies in
mismanagement and corruption have forced it to import
70 percent of its fuel, even while it is the 10th
largest producer of crude oil in the world.
The sudden removal of fuel subsidies in
the majority of people live on less than $2 a day,
affects workers' and families' core economic decisions,
including whether to pay for their children's school
fees this term or to go to the doctor this month.
Higher fuel costs are also expected to raise food
prices in
could affect an entire region that is suffering from
food price volatility.
President Goodluck Jonathon's government has ignored
calls from Nigerian labor movement and others for
substantive dialogue on the issue. On Jan. 6, a
judicial order was issued to stop the Nigeria Labor
Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of
(TUC) from holding the strike that is now in its second
day. Yesterday, legislators across the political
spectrum held an emergency session in
of Representatives, calling for the president to
reverse his decision. So far, police response to the
mostly peaceful protests has resulted in the death of
at least one protester and injuries to more than a dozen.
The AFL-CIO stands in solidarity with Nigerian workers
who are peacefully protesting the removal of fuel
subsidies in their country. We strongly condemn all
acts of violence targeted at intimidating and
threatening peaceful protesters.
_____________
We Will Hold Presidency Accountable for Actions of its Thugs
Owei Lakemfa, NLC Acting General Secretary & John Kolawole, TUC Secretary General
January 10, 2012
http://denjayaq.blogspot.com/2012/01/press-statement-we-will-hold-presidency.html
The
Congress (TUC) congratulate the Nigerian masses for a
second successful day of strikes, rallies and mass
protests. The reports from across the country show
that Nigerians remain resolute in their resolve that
the increase in the price of PMS (petrol) of between
N141 and N220 must be reversed to N65.
The Presidency should take a cue from this mass anger
of Nigerians by reversing its anti-people policy on fuel.
By their actions in the past few days, Nigerians have
left the Presidency and the world in no doubt that
sovereignty belongs to them and that they intend to
reclaim their country.
The Presidency's armed thugs
The Labour Movement alerts the country and the world at
large that the government of President Goodluck Ebele
Jonathan has imported armed thugs into
the anti-fuel price hike protesters.
In a Mubarak-style response to the peoples' protests,
the Jonathan administration brought into
armed with various weapons including guns. Those of
them who made an appearance on
afternoon were former militants and students from
Nasarawa Polytechnic who operated under the banner of
"PDP Transformation Movement".
Clearly, the Presidency had intended to use the police
and army to carry out a planned attacks on peaceful
protesters but due to the outcry over previous murders,
it has opted to use armed thugs. Labour warns the
Presidency that it will be held responsible for
whatever atrocities these thugs commit. If the thugs
attack the anti fuel price hike protesters, the Labour
Movement will be compelled to ask all citizens to march
on
The Jonathan Presidency must wake up to the reality
that Nigerians in their tens of millions have spoken
out across the country against the fuel price hike and
it will do well to listen to the voice of the people.
The nation will recall that the Presidency using a
former militant as front, had on Friday January 6, 2012
employed thugs to invade the NLC headquarters.
With the turmoil in the country created by the
Presidency's insensitive hike in fuel prices, the
Jonathan administration has become the greatest danger
to democracy in
The anti-fuel price hike murders
The country, tragically has witnessed the murder of at
least eight unarmed civilians in the course of the
protests against fuel price hikes.
The Labour Movement has decided to lodge a formal
complaint at the International Criminal Court (ICC)
against President Jonathan and Inspector General, Affiz
Ringim for the murder of the protesters in the country.
We want to thank specifically workers and artisans,
market men and women, professional organizations,
especially the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the
Organisations, the unemployed, the physically
challenged, students and youths, and religions leaders
who have played fundamental roles in the strikes and
mass protests.
We are also appreciative of the presence of serving and
former members of the House of Representatives at the rallies.
The Labour Movement is confident that a united people
cannot be divided. We call on Nigerians to continue
the strikes, rallies and protests tomorrow Wednesday
January 11, 2012 and subsequent days until the Jonathan
government listens to the voice of the Nigerian People.
___________________________________________
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