The new coalition, Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 and
Beyond, was launched ahead of May 1, which is Workers Day.
A coalition of labour movements and over 70 civil society
groups have launched a new platform to campaign for the protection of the
interest 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, was launched ahead of May 1, which is Workers Day.
According to a statement by the group’s Secretary for
Publicity, Adewale Adeoye, human rights lawyer, Mr Femi Falana (SAN), was
elected as its interim chairman.
Other interim officers include Ms. Hauwa Mustapha (deputy
chairman), Mr. Ade Atambi (Secretary,).
Adeoye said the coalition has an extensive network of
participating organisations drawn from across Nigeria’s six-geo political
zones.
Some of the affiliate members are Nigerian Labour Congress,
Nigerian 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 Corporation, Civil Services Technical And Recreational Services
Employees, Civil Liberties Organisation (Bayelsa), COPEAIDS Foundation,
Committee for the Defence of Human Rights among many others.
ASCAB bemoaned the fact that Coronavirus was turning the
world upside down and that responses from the corrupt elite was for a lockdown
until the virus goes away without a short and long term strategic plan.
It said authorities in Nigeria had failed to link the spread
of the pandemic to failure of an effective public health system, the absence of
social security and health insurance for the masses, while governments had no
preference for provision of the essentials of life like housing and food
security.
It condemned a regime of policies driven by investments in
consumables rather than production.
It said Coronavirus had exposed the vulnerability of
Nigerians to communicable diseases and has demonstrated the complete lack of
creativity on the part of leadership.
The group 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 those in this category 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.
ASCAB said it will work with local, regional and
international organisations to ensure networking and collaboration for
leadership responsibility in Africa and Nigeria.
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