A coalition of labour movements and over 70 civil society groups have launched a new group to campaign for the protection of the interests of workers and the vulnerable poor against the far-reaching economic and socio-cultural impact of COVID-19 in Nigeria.
The new coalition, Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond, launched on Wednesday ahead of the historic May 1 Workers Day, has elected radical lawyer, Femi Falana, (SAN), as its interim chairman.
Other interim officers are Deputy Chairman, Hauwa Mustapha; Secretary, Ade Atambi; and Secretary for Publicity, Adewale Adeoye.
The group in a statement signed by Adeoye said the coalition has an extensive network of participating organisations drawn from across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
Some of the affiliate members are Nigeria Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress, United Action for Democracy, Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre, Journalists for Democratic Rights, Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association Of Nigeria, Amalgamated Union of Public Cooperation, Civil Services Technical And Recreational Services Employees, Civil Liberties Organization, Bayelsa, COPEAIDS FOUNDATION and Committee for the Defence of Human Rights among many others.
ASCAB said in its missions statement: “COVID-19 is taking a high toll on the beliefs, culture and economy of Nigerians. It is a threat to every household. The working class and the poor will suffer most. The State and Federal Governments’ responses to COVID-19 show the lack of the least preparation for any pandemic in Nigeria. It has exposed the weaknesses and ineptitude of the ruling class. It shows they have no strategic response to an affliction of the COVID-19 magnitude.”
ASCAB bemoaned the fact that Coronavirus is turning the world upside down and responses from the corrupt elite is for a lockdown until the virus goes away without a short and long term strategic plan.
It said authorities in Nigeria have failed to link the spread of the pandemic to failure of an effective public health system, absence of social security and health insurance for the masses, while governments have no preference for provision of essentials of life like housing and food security.
It condemned a regime of policies driven by investments in consumables rather than production.
It said the coronavirus has exposed the vulnerability of Nigerians to communicable diseases and has demonstrated the complete lack of creativity on the part of leadership.
It warned on the consequences of neglecting indigenous alternative medicine by public health administrators.
It said there are 72,000 doctors registered with the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria but more than half of the population have been compelled to flee the country for overseas.
The group said COVID-19 will have long and short term implications for the political economy of Nigeria and that only a leadership driven by common good can lead Nigeria out of the doldrums.
It said that about 90 million Nigerians, half of the population, live in poverty and are at greater risk of facing grievous COVID-19 impacts.
ASCAB said it will work with local, regional and international organisations to ensure networking and collaboration for leadership responsibility in Africa and Nigeria.
ASCAB has produced The Action Programme drawn up in the wake of the break-out of the COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdowns, containing a wide range of demands and activities that will provide the necessary safety nets for vulnerable Nigerians.
The Action Programme is anchored on mobilisation of Nigerians to engage their leaders in an organised manner for good governance, effective and efficient service delivery.
Demands in the programme were that during the lockdowns, there should be provision of essentials of life like food, no water or electricity disconnections for non-payments, provision of water and electricity at government expense, all households, residential institutions and the homeless must have access to adequate food.
ASCAB also demanded for building of new public hospitals, existing health facilities to be upgraded, immediate stoppage of commercialisation and privatisation of services in public hospitals, essential private facilities must be taken over and organised for public use to provide a unified and fair distribution of essential goods, medical care and other services to all communities, and at government expense.
Others are that the homeless should be provided accommodation in empty houses, event centres, and at government expense while minimum income security for all, particularly for the unemployed and students should be guaranteed.
The group said: “The reality on the ground is that the lockdown is on in Lagos, Abuja and Ogun States and some other states. Interstate travel is being restricted by the Federal Government and agreement among state governments. However, the poor masses are suffering the effects of the lockdown, as governments have failed to address the welfare needs of the people. In some states the citizens have already come out to protest against the adverse effects of the lockdown on their lives. The people are hungry and as such cannot afford to stay indoors. In addition, other people have taken to crime and burglary as their income, mainly from the informal sector has dried up. This has caused greater problems for the labouring masses.
“The government continues to be a recipient of knowledge and ideas from foreign countries shown lack of capacity to manage its own affairs. There are no plans to develop and distribute vaccines or contact a country like Cuba for help, yet we do not know when the crisis would end.”
The group wondered it said wondering who can continue to stay at home without a means of livelihood and access to water, food and drugs indefinitely.
It said the priorities for the poor majority remain the same – how to obtain food, water and housing for their families and friends, electricity and data to stay in touch with friends, families and colleagues, adding: “We need mass testing and tracing of contacts to contain the virus and free healthcare for all with protective equipment for all health workers.
It promised to use the influence of the social movements, including but not limited to Labour and community-based organisations, to push the Government to adopt the Action Programme that will ensure that the poor majority of Nigerians do not suffer so much from a disease that was brought here by the corrupt elite flying across the world.
The group has the following sub-committees, Public Health, Gender and Persons with Disabilities, Civil Society Outreach Contact, Labour Outreach Contact, Strategic Response on Post pandemic Response and Recovery, Research and Publications, State and Regional Structures, Legal and Human Rights, Finance and Funding.
The group demand for ACTION PROGRAMME in the listed areas below:
• All households, residential institutions and the homeless must be provided access to safe drinking water, either through public pipe borne water or water tankers, public or private, at government expense.
• All households, residential institutions and the homeless must be provided with washing and sanitation facilities and safe waste disposal arrangements.
• There must be no water disconnections for non-payment of water rates, at least for the period of lockdowns.
• There must be no electricity disconnections for non-payment of bills, at least for the period of lockdowns.
• Water and electricity must be provided free at government expense, at least for the periods of the lockdowns.
• All households, residential institutions and the homeless must have access to adequate food.
• All public hospitals and other health facilities must be directed to provide free medical care for all.
• Arrangements should be made with private health providers to attend to the sick in their homes and localities where such people cannot reach public hospitals, and at government expense.
• New public hospitals should be built and existing health facilities upgraded.
• Immediate stoppage of commercialisation and privatisation of services in public hospitals.
• Essential private facilities must be taken over and organised for public use to provide a unified and fair distribution of essential goods, medical care and other services to all communities, and at government expense.
• The homeless should be provided accommodation in empty houses, event centres, and at government expense.
• Minimum income security for all, particularly for the unemployed and students. Direct cash transfers into bank accounts rather than cash distribution should be undertaken.
• There must be no stoppage of payment of salaries for workers or pensioners.
• Loan arrangement without interest should be provided for the self-employed and small scale businesses to retain their employees.
• Self-isolation in the homes should be discouraged to prevent tension and violence in our homes. Public isolation and quarantine facilities should be provided.
• Communication must be free, open and democratised.
• Free online learning arrangements must be planned and commenced whilst eliminating unequal access to such services.
• Funds dedicated to fight Covid-19 must be transparently spent and monitored by mass organisations, trade unions, professional bodies and community associations.
• The crisis should not be used by the government to privatise the refineries or any area of the economy.
• Cancellation or suspension of repayment and servicing of government debts.
• Arrangement should be made to allow courts to hear bail applications and other urgent matters by Skype or Zoom.
• Self-organisation and local action is critical, as is our representation in national coordination.
• Involvement of representatives of workers, media and other organised groups in committees set up to manage the crisis.
• The National Assembly should reconvene to pass appropriate laws to give legal effects to Covid-19 focused and dictated measures.
• We must prevent a nationalist, authoritarian and security-focused approach in containing the virus.
This Action Programme appended above is being supported by the following organisations and individuals:
1. African Action Congress (AAC)
2. African Centre for Media and Information Literacy (AFRICMIL)
3. Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN)
4. All Workers Convergence (AWC)
5. Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE)
6. Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE), Oyo State Chapter
7. Ambassadors of Change Nigeria (ACN)
8. Asoro Centre for Development and Citizenship
9. Automobile, Boatyards, Transport Equipment and Allied Senior Staff Association (AUTOBATE)
10. Center for Awareness Reorientation and Empowerment (CARE), Africa
11. Centre for Human Rights and Social Advancement (CEFSAN)
12. Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD)
13. Centre for Labour Studies
14. Centre for Peace Across Borders (CePAB)
15. Civil Liberties Organization (CLO), Bayelsa State Chapter
16. Civil Rights Council (CRC).
17. Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC)/ Transparency International in Nigeria
18. Civil Society Network Against Corruption.
19. Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR)
20. COPEAIDS Foundation
21. Development and Female Gender Initiative (DEGENDER)
22. Federation of Informal Workers Organisation of Nigeria (FIWON)
23. Femi Falana, SAN
24. Freedom Charter Campaign (FCC).
26. Global Relief and Empowerment Initiative, Akwa Ibom State
27. Grassroots Health Organisation
28. Green Peoples Environmental Network (GREPNET)
29. HipCity Innovation Centre (HipCity Hub)
30. Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA) Resource Centre.
31. Human Rights Agenda Network
32. Iva Valley Books, Abuja.
33. Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) Oyo State Chapter.
34. Journalists for Democratic Rights (JODER)
35. Lawyers in Defence of Democracy
36. Legal Defence and Assistance Project (LEDAP)
37. Marxist League for Workers Internationalism (MLWI)
38. More Action Less Talk (M.A.L.T.)
39. Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MEHUN), Oyo State Chapter
40. Movement for Justice, Benin
41. National Conscience Party (NCP)
42. National Union of Agricultural and Allied Employees (NUAAE) Oyo State Chapter.
43. Neighbourhood Environment Watch Foundation
44. Nigeria Automobile Technicians Association (NATA)
45. Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Oyo State Chapter
46. Nigerian Human Rights Community (NHRC)
47. Nigeria Partners for Electoral Reform
48. Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Oyo State Chapter
49. Peace Point Development Foundation (PPDF)
50. Pegarsus-Zion Community and Environmental Health
51. Peoples’ Alternative Front (PAF)
52. Praxis Centre
53. Prof. Jibrin Ibrahim
54. Radio Television and Theatre Arts Workers Union (RATTAWU) Oyo State Chapter
55. Say No Campaign
56. Social Accountability & Environmental Sustainability Initiative
57. Social Rights and Leadership Forum (SRLF)
58. Social Security Network, Imo State
59. Socialist Congress of Nigeria (SCON)
60. Socialist Workers and Youth League (SWL)
61. Socio Economic Research and Development Centre (SERDEC)
62. Socio Economic Right and Accountability Project (SERAP)
63. Take Back Nigeria
64. The Liberated Minds, Uniben
65. The Movement Against Unemployment and Destitution (MUD)
66. Tubali Development Initiative
67. United Action for Democracy (UAD), Kano
68. Women Advocates Research and Documentation Center (WARDC)
69. Working People and Youth Alliance (WPYA)
70. YES Project Initiative.