Third general strike to rock Nigeria in three years The workers of Nigeria are once again on the move with the start of today's indefinite general strike. This is a first report about what is happening there. Further analysis will follow in the next few days.
Nigeria - Balance sheet of the OAU Ife anti-fees struggle We have received reports on the latest developments at the OAU in Ife, Nigeria, from the students involved in the struggle. In spite of a determined effort by the student leaders to stop the massive fees increase, because of many factors, not least the totally treacherous role of the student leadership nationally (NANS), for now the authorities have managed to impose their measures. But this is not going to be the end of the story.
Morocco: Behind the "democratic" mask of the king lies the brutal face of dictatorship The new King Mohammed VI is fond of presenting an image of Morocco as a southern Mediterranean country steadily moving towards modernity and democracy. We asked two Moroccan Marxists to shed some light on these claims, which to many ordinary people seem completely unjustified.
Nigeria: The truth about what is happening at OAU (Ife) The need for clarification on what has been happening at the OAU (Ife, Nigeria) is very urgent considering the level of propaganda and outright lies and distortions that the authorities have been churning out to the international community. Here we are publishing a reply from the students involved in the struggle.
Fifth anniversary of the Workers' Alternative This year marks the fifth anniversary of the first edition of the Workers' Alternative, the Nigerian Marxist journal. It has not been easy keeping the banner of genuine Marxism flying in the conditions that prevail in Nigeria but the comrades have kept going thanks to the support and encouragement from their numerous supporters and readers, inside and outside Nigeria. Now to mark the anniversary they are making an appeal for more support.
Nigeria: Abacha bonapartism - five years on Five years after the fall of the hated military dictator of Nigeria, General Sani Abacha, we look at why he came to power and why in the end the same ruling elite that had supported him was forced to intervene to remove for fear of the mass movement that was building up from below.
Nigeria: Mass movement is building up at OAU (Ife University) The OAU University authorities are trying to stalemate negotiations with the student union, further enraging the mass of students. Keep sending in your protest messages. Today we received important protest message from Greek trade unionists and youth and from the Spanish School Students' Union. By Isiaka Adegbile, one of the victimised students.
Contents of the Workers' Alternative, May-June 2003 A list of the articles that were published in the recent May-June edition of the Workers' Alternative.
Appeal for solidarity against further repression of Nigerian students On May 27, the authorities there suspended five student union leaders for a session. These measures have been taken against the students because they have been leading a struggle against increases in university fees.
Pentecostal madness An interesting insight into the proliferation of religious superstition in Nigeria over the past few years, a reflection of the impasse of society.
Fee-hike season in Varsities: the OAU story It all began when the Prof. Rogers-led university management indicated their intention to blow up the payable fees in the university from N590.00 to N4,500 for the old students and from N1,500 to N9,500 for the new students. The crisis has been lingering since then.
Editorial postscript: the war in Iraq and the Nigerian Elections An update on the main editorial, concentrating mainly on the recent April elections.
Nigeria: One hundred workers burnt alive after boss locked them in The boss needs a rest. He goes home and locks the doors to the factory. A fire breaks out and a hundred workers are burnt alive as they desperately try to escape. The horror of 21st century capitalism in Nigeria.
Morocco - US imperialism brings back the spectre of al-Qaeda On Saturday forty-one people were killed and many more were injured in Casablanca, Morocco, in a terrorist attack which came only four days after the synchronised suicide bombings on expatriate residences in the Saudi capital, Riyadh. This striking event, and the other recent attacks, are clear indications that the so-called "war on terror" was far from finished with the fall of Saddam Hussein.
Nigerian 2003 elections: Workers need their own party to put an end to this sham "democracy" Nothing good will come to the working people of Nigeria from the recent elections. None of the main candidates stand for the interests of the workers, the peasants, the urban poor, the unemployed, the students of Nigeria. They represent different cliques within the Nigerian ruling class.
Nigeria: NEPA workers say no privatization This article, written by a Nigerian trade union leader argues the case against privatisation of the state-run NEPA electricity company.
Nigeria: Another round of betrayals! The demand for a 12.2% increase in the minimum wage, casualisation and pensions betrayed!
My experience in a Nigerian jail Last year we publicised the plight of a group of Nigerian students who were shot at and arrested during one of their protes. Here one of those students describes the appalling conditions in Nigerian jails, but he also draws inspiration from his experience to continue in the struggle to transform society, the most noble cause anyone can dedicate themselves to.
Enter the workers' party in Nigeria? The implications of the INEC Registration of the PSD, NCP and 22 other parties for the forthcoming Nigerian elections.
Again:understanding a sister’s struggle - the plight of Nigerian women under Islamic law Since the introduction of Sharia law in the northern states of Nigeria the plight of Nigerian women has come to the attention of the world. In particular young women have been condemned to being stoned to death after being charged of the "crime" of adultery. This is a particularly barbaric aspect of class society and will only really be eradicated together with the system that spawns it, when the workers of Nigeria overthrow capitalism. Below we are publishing a comment on this situation by a Nigerian Marxist.