Strike News: Updates on FG Meeting with NLC and TUC emerges
The impending strike set by the organized labour, originally planned to start on October 3, might now be on the verge of suspension.
This potential turnaround stems from a significant meeting between the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC), and the Federal Government (FG).
The Federal Government was represented by the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila.
On the other side, Mr. Joe Ajaero, the NLC President, led the organized Labour. The parties, during their discussions, managed to arrive at several mutual agreements.
Key Outcomes of the Meeting
Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, speaking on behalf of the FG, confirmed their commitment to devising strategies aimed at addressing issues related to the subsidy removal.
Following the discussions, the NLC President mentioned his plans to consult with union members. Their objective? To review FG’s offers and gauge the possibility of halting the forthcoming strike.
A noteworthy revelation made by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mallam Mohammed Idris, detailed the FG’s willingness to:
A noteworthy revelation made by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mallam Mohammed Idris, detailed the FG’s willingness to:
- Offer a provisional wage increment of N25,000 for all federal government employees paid via the treasury, effective for a six-month period.
- Expedite the introduction of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses, an attempt to mitigate public transport inconveniences stemming from the discontinuation of the PMS subsidy.
Other government promises included:
- Micro and Small-scale Enterprises Support: Provision of necessary funding.
- VAT Waiver: Diesel will see its VAT eliminated for the forthcoming six months.
- Household Assistance: Starting from October, FG plans to disburse N75,000 to 15 million households. This aid, broken down, will be N25,000 monthly, continuing until December 2023.
The joint statement from the FG and organized labour emphasized that resolving the current disagreements necessitates workers being active and not on strike.
During the talks, Labour Unions made their case for a more substantial wage increment. In response, the Federal Government’s representatives assured that they would forward the Labour’s proposal to President Bola Tinubu for further examination.
Additional Agreements and Action Points
To facilitate the smooth implementation of the agreed-upon resolutions, the parties decided on the formation of a sub-committee.
This group’s primary task will be detailing the steps required to implement the agreed-upon government interventions, particularly those related to the removal of the fuel subsidy.
Lastly, there’s the ongoing matter involving the Road Transport Employees Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) and the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Lagos State.
Recognizing the urgency of this issue, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who joined the meeting virtually, committed to addressing the situation promptly.
Conclusion of Meeting
The recent meeting between the FG, NLC, and TUC suggests positive strides towards resolving the pressing concerns of organized labour.
With the agreements reached and the commitments made, the planned October 3 strike might just be averted.
As the nation awaits the final decision, there’s hope that these discussions mark the beginning of more harmonious relations between the Nigerian government and its workforce