Labour unions suspend strike for 30 days

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have agreed to suspend the industrial action planned for Oct. 3 for 30 days.

At the end of a five-hour closed-door meeting, the union leaders said that all the agreements had been given a time line for implementation.

The document was signed by representatives of the government and the leaders of the joint union.

The highlights of the agreement are outlined as follows:

Arising from the withdrawal of subsidies on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) by the Federal Government and the resultant increase in the price of the commodity, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) issued a strike notice, which had elapsed, and they were poised to embark on a strike billed to commence on Tuesday, October 3, 2023.

Consequently, a meeting was called by the Federal Government to avert the strike, and after much discussion, the following agreements were reached:

1. The Federal Government grants a wage award of N35,000 (thirty-five thousand Naira) only to all Federal Government workers beginning in the month of September, pending when a new national minimum wage is expected to have been signed into law.

2. A minimum wage committee shall be inaugurated within one month from the date of this agreement.

3. The federal government suspends the collection of value-added tax (VAT) on diesel for six months beginning in October 2023.

4. The Federal Government accepts to vote N100 billion for the provision of high-capacity CNG buses for mass transit in Nigeria. Provisions are also being made for initial 55,000 CNG conversion kits to kick-start an auto gas conversion programme, while work is ongoing on state-of-the-art CNG stations nationwide. The rollout aims to commence by November, with pilots across 10 campuses nationwide.

5. The Federal Government plans to implement various tax incentive measures for the private sector and the general public.

6. On the leadership crisis rocking the NURTW and the purported proscription of RTEAN, the Federal Government commits to handling labour matters in line with relevant ILO Conventions and Nigerian Labour Acts. A resolution of the ongoing impasse is expected by or before October 13.

7. The issue of outstanding salaries and wages for tertiary education workers in federally owned educational institutions is being referred to the Ministry of Labour and Employment for further engagement.

8. The Federal Government commits to paying N25,000 per month for three months starting in October 2023 to 15 million households, including vulnerable pensioners.

9. The Federal Government will increase its initiatives on the subsidised distribution of fertilisers to farmers across the country.

10. The Federal Government should urge state governments, through the National Economic Council and Governors Forum, to implement wage awards for their workers. Similar consideration should also be given to local government and private sector workers.

11. The Federal Government commits to the provision of funds as announced by the President on the 1st of August and broadcast to the nation for micro and small-scale enterprises. The beneficiaries of MSMEs should commit to the principle of decent jobs.

12. A joint visitation will be made to the refineries to ascertain their rehabilitation status.

13. All parties commit to henceforth abide by the dictates of social dialogue in all our future engagements.

14. The NLC and TUC accept to suspend for 30 days the planned indefinite nationwide strike scheduled to begin on Tuesday, October 3, 2023.

15. This memorandum shall be filed with the relevant court of competent jurisdiction within one (1) week as a consent judgement by the Federal Government.

NAN reports that the agreement was signed by the Minister of Labour and Employment, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, and the Minister of State for Labour and Employment on the government side.

The president and Secretary General of the NLC and TUC signed on behalf of the unions.