The leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and Trade Union Congress, TUC have suspended Monday’s planned nationwide strike following an agreement reached with the Federal Government.
Part of the agreement reached includes reversal of the new electricity tariff for a period of two weeks pending the outcome of a technical committee. The committee is to look at the new tariff regime and metering among others for more understanding.
In a communique read by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, both organised labour and government agreed that another steering committee be set up on the petroleum downstream to ensure that the country reduces importation of petroleum products by fixing the existing refineries.
Other agreements reached include that a specific amount unveiled by the Federal Government in two weeks that will be isolated from the Economic Sustainability Programme Intervention Fund and made accessible by workers with subsequent provision for 240,000 under the auspices of NLC and TUC for participation in agricultural ventures through the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN and Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. The timeline for the special fund is to be fixed at the next meeting between labour and government.
Agreements were also reached that the Federal Government will facilitate the removal of tax on minimum wage as a way to cushion the impact of the policy on the lowest vulnerable.
Also agreed was that the Federal Government will immediately make available to organised labour 133 CNG/LPG driven mass transit buses and provide to the major cities across the country on a scale-up basis thereafter to all states and local governments before December 2021.
The meeting equally agreed that 10% will be allocated to Nigerian workers under the ongoing Ministry of Housing and Finance initiative through the NLC and TUC.
Organised labour however reminded the government that the planned strike is only suspended for 2 weeks and should agreements reached be breached workers will give no further notice before proceeding on industrial action.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
