The NEHAWU Secretariat Office released the following statement in solidarity with the Nigerian workers:
“NEHAWU offers its solidarity to the workers of Nigeria in their fight against the decision by their government to end the fuel subsidies despite their country being the biggest oil producer in Sub-Saharan Africa. The working class in Nigeria must summon the courage of past heroes like Ken Saro Wiwa and others who never wavered in the face of persecution in their fight against their country’s exploitation by the greedy capitalist and selfish politicians with no regard to the suffering of their people.
The resources of African countries have for decades been exploited by big multinationals aided by politicians, leaving the people of the continent destitute. We call on the Nigerian government to reconsider their decision of cancelling the subsidies. The cancellation of the subsidies reflects a failure by government to build refineries in a country that exports crude oil.
They must remember that their duty is to serve the people of Nigeria not inhuman capitalists who are busy feasting while ordinary people are starving. We call on the workers to maintain their unity and refuse to allow the re-colonisation of their country by multinationals assisted by few careless politicians. The people of Nigeria have for centuries suffered under colonialism and military dictatorships and were denied their right to speak out against issues that affect their socio economic conditions. They should understand that it is through fighting and resistance that they will stop the scheming and unreliable politicians from selling their country to the highest bidder.
The Boko Haram’s attack on Christian communities this week is a reflection of the socio-economic crisis which normally generates divisions, sectarianism and xenophobia. The levels of poverty make people vulnerable to exploitation and manipulation by religious fundamentalists and tribal warlords. The union is fully behind the struggles to emancipate the poor from the clutches of capitalist exploitation by multinationals and fat cat politicians. Let the people of Nigeria be given a right to the wealth of their country.”