Razaq Bamidele
A pro-Labour civil society movement, The Joint Action Front (JAF), held its 4th Congress on September 4 and 5, 2021, in Lagos-Nigeria, where it described as imperative, an alternative political agenda of socialist reconstruction of the country.
The 4th Congress which drew participants from the affiliates and allies of JAF, including the media, had in attendance the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) who delivered two keynote addresses.
Both keynote speeches re-affirmed the commitment of the NLC and ASUU to work with JAF to resuscitate the Labour and Civil Society Coalition (LASCO) and deepen collaboration with JAF in working towards an alternative political agenda of socialist reconstruction of Nigeria.
In a communiqué issued at the end of the congress, which was jointly signed by Dr Dipo Fashina and Comrade Abiodun Aremu (Chairman and Secretary respectively), the organization reached some major resolutions that included but not limited to:
1. That JAF, with the organised Labour movement and independent of it, will remain committed to the struggles of workers and the oppressed poor masses in Nigeria.
2. Shall, in addition to working with Labour centres – NLC and TUC, maintain the tradition of solidarity and joint struggles with the individual trade unions and professional organizations and thatSystem Change is not just a slogan.
3. That JAF is committed to fight for it through the struggles and mobilisation for socialist transformation of Nigeria.
On the State of the Nation, JAF recognizes the existence, in Nigeria, of issues arising from claims of ethnic injustice addoing that, in principle, JAF is in support of any justified demands for justice.
According to the communiqué, JAF remains committed to a united struggle of organized Labour, artisans and professionals and the poor masses against all anti-poor capitalist policies, responsible for the socio-economic crises in the country, mentioning unemployment, excruciating poverty and hardships, collapse of basic infrastructure, widespread insecurity of life and property, inflation and skyrocketed prices of foodstuffs, goods and services among others.
The organisation also resolved to work towards the unity of the working class and the oppressed masses in Nigeria and shall do so independently and with organized Labour to develop a program of action that will unite the working people and the oppressed masses, irrespective of ethnic or religious background.
In conclusion, JAF expressed commitment to winning the mass of working people and the oppressed masses to the task of System Change in the direction of socialist reconstruction of Nigeria.
