The planned strike by the Nigerian labour unions including the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, and the Trade Union Congress, TUC, may not hold following the latest intervention by the government.
Labour had planned to embark on an indefinite strike on Tuesday, October 3, but a government delegation led by the Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila engaged the unions in a marathon discussion on Sunday in an effort to stop them from the planned strike.
Labour is protesting the current hardship across the country occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy.
Recall that President Bola Tinubu had during his nationwide broadcast to mark the 63rd Nigerian independence anniversary had announce a wage increment of public servants by N25,000. This, according to the president was a provisional increment for only low income workers and would last for only six months.
But after the Sunday meeting with the Labour leaders, the government reviewed the amount upwardly, and extended the intervention to all federal government workers.
The Nigerian government also pledged its commitment towards to fast-tracking the provision of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses to eliminate the current issues associated with public transportation.
It also promised to The Federal funds for micro and small-scale enterprises.
It further assured that VAT on diesel will be suspended for the next 6 months.
Giving further assurance on tackling the current hardship, it promised to commence th payment of N75,000 to 15 million households. According to the government, the payment will last for only 3 months, and payment will be N25,000 per month.
Officials of government who met with the Labour leaders were the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, 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.
Meanwhile Labour was represented by NLC President, Joe Ajaero, Dr Tommy Etim Okon, Deputy President, TUC, NLC General Secretary, Emma Ugboaja, TUC General Secretary, Nuhu Toro, among others.
Sources at the meeting told AFRIPOST that the strike will no longer hold considering the agreement reached from the meeting.
He said, ” I was there and I can tell you for free that Labour agreed to all the promises. Though the meeting continues, it is just to have a more concrete agreement on the resolutions and to further look at a lasting solution so these issues will not keep re-occuring.”
He, however, said the only area of concern as it stands is the state branch of the NLC. He expressed optimism that the meeting will look at that aspect today.
Labour is expected to commence an indefinite strike tomorrow.
Though the NLC President is yet to make a statement on the Tuesday strike, he however, agreed with Gbajabiamila’s briefing on Sunday. The suspension of the strike will depend on an enlarged meeting of the unions.