Hardship: Rights groups declare Independence Anniversary ‘National Day of Survival’, set for protest 

Over 12 civic rights organizations have called on workers, students, youths, the unemployed, traders, and the poor to take part in peaceful protest and demonstrations on October 1, 2024.

The groups demanded an end to what they describe as excruciating economic hardship, poverty, and hunger, which they attributed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s implementation of IMF/World Bank-inspired capitalist policies.

These policies include hikes in fuel prices, electricity tariffs, school fees, and naira devaluation.

The organisations stated this in a joint statement signed by Youth Rights Campaign (YRC), Movement for Fundamental Change (MFC), Joint Action Front (JAF), Socialist Labour, Alliance on Surviving Covid-19 and Beyond (ASCAB), Yoruba Revolutionary Movement (YOREM), Coalition for Concerned Nigerian Citizens (CCNC) among other.

Others are Initiative for a Better and Brighter Nigeria (IBBN), Movement for African Emancipation (MAE), Pan-African Consciousness Renaissance (PACOR-Nigeria), Committee for the Defense of Human Rights (CDHR), Kaduna branch and Talakawa’s Parliament.

The groups expressed their discontent with the current state of the nation, highlighting the impact of these policies on the most vulnerable Nigerians.

“There can be no progress when a society is run to enrich a few at the expense of the mass majority,” the statement reads. “We need a different way of running our country.”

The groups also plan to use the day to call for the immediate and unconditional release of all #EndSARS and #EndBadGovernance protesters currently in police or prison custody.

The civic groups are also demanding freedom for detained journalists, whistleblowers, activists, and all victims of state repression.

The statement reads, “We the undersigned support the declaration of October 1st 2024 as “National Day of Survival”. On this day, we call on the Nigerian people, workers, students, youth, the unemployed, traders and the poor to come out in peaceful protest and demonstrations against the excruciating condition of hardship, poverty and hunger imposed on us by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s decision to implement IMF/World Bank-inspired anti-poor capitalist policies of fuel price hike, electricity tariff hike, school fees hike, and naira devaluation.

“We also call on the Nigerian people to utilize this day to demand with one voice the immediate and unconditional release of all #EndSARS and #EndBadGovernance protesters in police and prison custodies as well as freedom for detained journalists, whistleblowers, activists and all victims of state repression.

“Whereas every October 1st is a day to celebrate national independence, we do not think our country has anything to celebrate this year. Nigerians are neither happy nor free after 64 years of political independence from Colonial Britain. The Nigerian masses are poor and hungry.”

They explained that since coming to power, the Tinubu administration has imposed unprecedented hardship on millions of Nigerians and pushed them into multi-dimensional poverty and monumental misery.

They alleged that many working families are at the point of starvation. Several people have lost their jobs. The middle class has been destroyed. The rate of suicide is increasing.

They said, “Despite this, President Tinubu continues to drive forward these criminal anti-human policies. Petrol price is now four times higher than it was in May 29, last year. Also, while asking us to tighten our belt, President Tinubu continues to use Nigeria’s wealth to buy luxurious vehicles, yachts and jets for himself and his family.”

The groups added that President Tinubu’s government has employed brutal and repressive measures to quell any opposition to his polices.

The statement continues, “Basic civil liberties, like freedom of expression, association and lawful assembly, that usually distinguishes free citizens from slaves, are now largely absent in our country. For instance, several young people have been charged with treason and may face the death penalty if found guilty just because they displayed placards saying “End Bad Government” during the #EndBadGovernance protest in August. So, Nigerian are not much better off today than the darks days of military dictatorship.

“These, and many more, are the reasons we have named October 1st a “National Day of Survival”. It is a day for the Nigerian people to come together at barricades across the country to reflect on the journey of nationhood so far and take a decision on how to rescue our country from the condition of mass poverty in the midst of abundance.

“We hereby call on the Nigerian people, progressive organisations, trade unions, students unions, youth groups to begin to organize towards ensuring a massive but peaceful nationwide demonstration on this “National Day of Survival”. The October 1st action is an urgent cry to the Tinubu administration to address our demands immediately.”

However, the groups make 10 demands which include: “Say no to IMF neo-liberal policies. Reverse hike in fuel price and electricity tariff back to pre-May 29, 2023 level. Make government-owned refineries work to guarantee affordable fuel products.

“Reduce food prices and end hunger. Support farmers to ensure sustainable food production.

“End insecurity, banditry, terrorism and violent crimes. Prosecute culprits and their sponsors. For a robust security architecture and adequate support for soldiers at the front and their families.

“Release all #EndSARS and #EndBadGovernance protesters, journalists, whistleblowers and other victims of state repression unconditionally.”

Among the demands are, “Implement N70, 000 new National Minimum wage at all levels. For automatic real living minimum wage that is supported by law.

“Reduce the cost of governance. Place all political office holders on the minimum wage. Scrap security vote and constituency allowances.”

The groups urged the government should provide free and compulsory primary and secondary education for all Nigerian children, reduce tertiary education school fees, and give Nigerian students grant and not loans.

They also called for the “immediate prosecution and jailing of all corrupt politicians, judges, police, public servants and state officials.

“Massive investment in public works, social infrastructure and industrialization to create decent jobs for all.

“Genuine electoral reform. For independent candidature, diaspora voting and a truly independent electoral body.”

They explained that there can be no progress when a society is run to enrich a few at the expense of the mass majority.

“We need a different way of running our country – one that ensures that the country’s wealth goes to meeting the needs of all and not the greed of a few. This is our own definition of good governance. This how we end poverty and hunger. Unless our demands are met, more protests will follow the “National Day of Survival,” they said.

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