There are strong indications that the organised labour may suspend its planned strike earlier scheduled to commence on 3rd of October following dispute arising from the removal of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).
This is following a meeting between a federal government delegation led by the Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila and that of the organised labour led by the led by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) President Comrade Joe Ajaero on Sunday.
A statement by the minister of information and national orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris Malagi, disclosed that NLC and Trade Unions Congress (TUC) agreed to consider consider the offers made by the federal government “with a view to suspending the planned strike to allow for further consultations on the implementation of the resolutions above.”
According to the the minister, both parties resolve that “the issues in dispute can only be resolved when workers are at work and not when they are on strike.”
He said during the meeting, 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.
According to the minister both parties agreed that, ” 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.”
He said they also agreed that 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.
Malagi disclosed some of the commitment made by the federal government include the announcement of N25,000 only as provisional wage increment for all treasury-paid federal government workers for six months.
He said: “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.
“The Federal Government commits to the provision of funds for micro and small-scale enterprises.
“VAT on diesel will be waived for the next 6 months.
“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.”
He said 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 Gbajabiamila.
He said 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.
Others are Dr Tommy Etim Okon, Deputy President, TUC, NLC General Secretary, Emma Ugboaja, TUC General Secretary, Nuhu Toro, among others.
