The Joint Action Front (JAF) has announced that its protest in
solidarity with stakeholders in the education sector will commence on
August 13.
In an announcement today, JAF said the decision was
taken at a joint meeting at the weekend with stakeholders including
students, civil society groups, as well as academic and non-academic
staff unions from across the country.
The goal of the mass
protest is to ensure that public education at all levels occupies the
number one priority in governments’ policies, budgeting and
implementation.
“JAF reiterates its position on the struggle
for SYSTEM CHANGE to rid Nigeria of the present class of looters and
work towards the emergence of a JUST SYSTEM that would ensure democratic
participation and control of our collective endowments for PUBLIC
GOOD,”the statement said.
Yesterday’s meeting further resolved
to hold a media briefing one week before the start of the rallies to
unfold the details of the plan of action for the nationwide protest.
JAF urged Nigerians to brace up for a protracted struggle to save the
future of the Nigerian child because the extant ruling class of looters
and their cronies have no stake in public education because their
children are funded with public wealth in the expensive and exclusive
private schools in Nigeria and across the world.
Full text of the Press Statement:
MASS PROTEST to Save Public Education
Begins August 13th!
EDUCATION IS A RIGHT!!
1. The Joint Action Front (JAF) and representatives of the various
stakeholders in the education sector, comprising students, civil society
groups, academic and non-academic staff unions from across the country,
rose from an Expanded General Meeting yesterday, Sunday, July 28th with
the resolve to Kick off Zonal Mass Rallies/Protest on August 13th 2013
in Lagos.
2. The goal of the MASS PROTEST is to ensure that
Public Education at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels occupies
number ONE (1) priority in Governments’ policies, budgeting and
implementation.
3. The meeting agreed to intensify consultation
and mobilization of all stakeholders in the education sector: students,
parents, Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Non-Academic Staff Union
(NASU), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU),
Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Academic Staff Union of
Polytechnics (ASUP), NAAT, and College of Education Staff Union (COESU).
4. The meeting further resolved to hold a Media Briefing a week to
August 13th to unfold the details of the PLAN OF ACTION for the
nationwide protest and urge Nigerians to brace up for a protracted
struggle to save the future of the Nigerian Child because the extant
ruling class of looters and their cronies have no stake in PUBLIC
EDUCATION because their children are funded with public wealth in the
expensive and exclusive private schools in Nigeria and across the world.
5. JAF reiterates its position on the struggle for SYSTEM CHANGE to rid
Nigeria of the present class of looters and work towards the emergence
of a JUST SYSTEM that would ensure democratic participation and control
of our collective endowments for PUBLIC GOOD.
FORWARD EVER, BACKWARD NEVER
COMRADE ABIODUN AREMU
JAF Secretary
NB:
This is what we meant by SYSTEM CHANGE:
“Nigeria is rich. The wealth belongs to the people. Most Nigerians are
hungry, have no jobs, no education, no healthcare, no potable water, no
electricity supply and no affordable transportation. Most cannot feed
their families or educate their children. Those who are lucky to have
jobs are not much different. They also cannot afford a decent living for
their families. On the other hand, there is a very tiny group of
Nigerians who have cornered the wealth that belong to the working people
and the poor, who are in the majority. They loot the treasury and use
their stolen wealth to sustain themselves in power through their
political parties. They use their power to get richer and richer when
the poor get poorer and poorer. This is the system of exploitation and
oppression. It is the system that brings out the army and the police to
kill poor people when they protest against oppression and exploitation.
We want to change that system and replace it with a system where the
working people and the millions of people who are sufferings under the
system of exploitation will win power and ensure that the wealth of
Nigeria is used to ensure a good life for the majority of the people who
are now exploited and oppressed. System change is not replacing one
exploiter’s government by another exploiter’s government. It is
replacing an exploiter’s government by a people’s government to
reorganise Nigeria and put an end to exploitation and oppression”.
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