The Joint Action Front (JAF) has condemned plans by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to launch military intervention in Niger Republic and impose economic sanctions on the country. It also said the cutting of power supply to Niger by Nigeria and closure of the border with Niger were callous.
In a statement jointly signed by Chairperson of JAF, Dipo Fashina, and Secretary, Comrade Abiodun Aremu, the group said rather than waste money in prosecuting war against Niger, the federal government should restore subsidy and reverse petrol price to the old rate of N195 per litre.
The statement said, “We call on trade unions, working people and the youth in Nigeria and West Africa to reject the planned war and the economic sanctions with a series of mass actions.
“The working masses and youth should demand, instead of wasting Nigeria’s resources on war against Niger, the Tinubu government should restore subsidy and reverse the petrol price to the old rate of N195 per litre.
“We also demand the adequate funding of public education and reversal of the current hike in school fees. We also demand the payment of decent minimum wage that matches the rate of inflation.”
JAF said while it unequivocally condemned the opportunistic coup in Niger, which had nothing to do with the genuine interests of ordinary Nigeriens, “We strongly hold that it is the responsibility of the people of Niger to determine their own government, not an external force.
“Therefore, we support any pro-democracy movement in Niger that calls and fights for the rights of the masses of Niger to democratically choose their leaders.”
Deji Elumoye, Kingsley Nwezeh and Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja with agency reports
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