The Omaha guide., 1945-11-03

workers celebrated their own V-Day the first week
in September. The general strike OF more than
10000 Nigerian works. on the government-oWned
railroads, harbor, communications systems and
public works had achieved a sweeping and complete
victory. For ten weeks the strikers had wlthstood
all forms Of official pressure, intimidation and ter
orism. Thanks to the unbreakable unity OF their
ranks, the British Colonial Office was compelled
finally to grant their demands.
On instructions from George Hall, the new Labor
Party colonial secretary, Governor Richards OF Nj
geria broadcast a statement agreeing to comply
with the strikers demand for a minimum wage OF
2 shillings, sixpence a day and promising to pay
them full wages for the ten weeks. He also agreed
to release all the arrested strike leaders,; to reem-
ploy all government civil servants; to lift the ban on
the suppressed newspapers, the DAILY Comet and
African Pilot, assuring the editor, Nnamdi Aziklwe
security of life and property.
To mark the historic occasion of this victory OF
y colored labor over white Imperialism, the N1gerlan
trade union and nationalist leaders issued a special
manifesto congratulating the workers on their 10y
atty and appealing for still greater unity 10 the
struggles ahead. The declaration concluded IN the
shirt of The Communist Manifesto: "We can send
workers no better message than this which Karl
Marx, the Jesus Christ of the working class, would
have undoubtedly sent them if he were in this coun-
try today: namely, workers of Nigeria, umte!'
The general strike, which began on June Il, had
been preceded by a month of negotiations with the
government which is the largest employer OF labor
in Nigeria. On May 81 the African Civil Servants
Technical Workers Union sent a letter to the Gov
ernor ointing out that, according to their computa-
lions. the cost of living had risen 200 percent since
1899, and that the government had partially recogn-
lied this by giving increases to it's European en-
ployees and supplementary allowances to Their
families.
In view Of these facts, the Nigerian Trade Union
Congress asked for a minimum wage OF z shlllngs
~sixpence a day, retroactive to April l, 1914 and a
so percent increase in cost of living allowance Tor
all workers earning less than 40 pounds (abOut
5000 per year, and a sliding scale above that. The
Congress also gave a one-mOnth strike notice III
support of these demands, declaring that 1.-THE work
es of Nigeria shall proceed to seek their own rem
edy. with due regard for law and order on the one
hand and starvation on the other
The letter Of the African Civil Servants Technl-
cal Workers Union to the Governor described their
intolerable living conditions. Prior to the war
three or four workers and their families lived III
rooms measuring as little as 10 by 10 feet. Today
their osition has been considerably worsened. Rents
have increased abnormally, prices of food and I'M
ported goods have scared, supplies are scarce. AS
a result the health Of the people has become severe
" impaired and tuberculosis victims are multiply
inc. t'Have we fought this war in order to be eX-
terminated by starvation? - the letter asked
The Governor Of Nigeria is the Sir Arthur Rich
ards who attained notoriety for suppression OF
strikes and demonstrations while he was Governor
of Jamaica. This colonial despot replied that he
would not meet with representatives OF the workers
since no purpose could be served by discussion. An
Increase in wages, he said, would not offset the IN
creased cost Of living but would simply cause mfla-
ton! A second appeal made on June IL was again
turned down.