JUST IN: Labour to consider strike suspension, reaches 5 other resolutions with FG

The Federal Government and the Nigeria Labour Congress reached five resolutions following a meeting between both parties on Sunday, October 1 regarding the planned strike by organized labor, according to an October 1 statement signed and updated by Mallam Mohammed Idris, the Minister of Information and National Orientation at 9:53 PM.

One of these resolutions calls for organized labor to consider suspending its strike.

The discussion, according to the statement, addressed disputes stemming from the elimination of fuel subsidies, which has affected food prices, transportation, and the overall cost of living.

The statement from the FG reads as follows: 

• “The Federal Government, on Sunday, October 1, 2023, met with the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) on measures to address the dispute arising from the removal of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).  
• “The parties noted the following:  
• “i) The Federal Government has announced N25,000 only as provisional wage increment for all treasury-paid federal government workers for six months.  
• “ii) The Federal Government is committed to fast-tracking the provision of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses to ease public transportation difficulties associated with the removal of PMS subsidy.  
• “iii) The Federal Government commits to the provision of funds for micro and small-scale enterprises.  
• “iv) VAT on diesel will be waived for the next 6 months.  
• “v) The Federal Government will commence payment of N75,000 to 15 million households at N25,000 per month, for a three-month period from October-December 2023.  

RESOLUTIONS:  

“In light of the discussions held during the meeting, the following resolutions were reached:  

• “i) The issues in dispute can only be resolved when workers are at work and not when they are on strike. 
• “ii) Labour Unions argued for higher wage award and the Federal Government Team promised to present Labour’s request to President Bola Tinubu for further consideration.  
• “iii) A sub-committee to be constituted to work out the details of implementation of all items for consideration regarding government interventions to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal.  
• “iv) The lingering matter of Road Transport Employees Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) and National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Lagos State needs to be addressed urgently and Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who participated virtually, pledged to resolve the matter.  
• “v.) NLC and TUC will consider the offers by the Federal Government with a view to suspending the planned strike to allow for further consultations on the implementation of the resolutions above.  
• “vi.) Going from the meeting with Labour today, President Bola Tinubu has agreed to increase the provisional wage award for all treasury-paid Federal Government workers to N35,000 for 6 months. 
• “Governor Abdulrazak Abdulrahman of Kwara State and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) and Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, participated virtually in the meeting, chaired by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila.  
• “Also in attendance were the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong, the Minister of State, Labour, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Doris Uzoka-Anite, the Head of Service of the Federation, Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan and the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.  
• “The labor delegation was led by NLC President, Joe Ajaero, Dr Tommy Etim Okon, Deputy President, TUC, NLC General Secretary, Emma Ugboaja, TUC General Secretary, Nuhu Toro, among others.”