After A Meeting With Federal Government, Labour May Call Off Planned Nationwide Strike

There are indications that the organised labour will call off the nationwide strike it planned to commence from the day after tomorrow, October 3.
This follows a meeting the federal government with some state governors held with the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and other stakeholders in Abuja today, October 1.
At the meeting, the federal government agreed to quickly address the issues at stake, but that “the issues in dispute can only be resolved when workers are at work and not when they are on strike.”
A communique at the end of the meeting, issued by the minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris said that the meeting was held “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.”
The parties resolved, according to the minister, that Federal Government Team promised to present Labour’s request by Labour Unions for higher wage award to President Bola Tinubu for further consideration.
“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.
“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.
“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.”
Meanwhile, the Labour leaders have promised to take the end product of the meeting to their members who will collectively decide the next move as to whether to go for strike as planned or call it off.
At the meeting were Governor Abdulrazak Abdulrahman of Kwara State who doubles as Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) and Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State. The meeting was 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 labour 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.