Emmanuel OchayiThe Federal Government is cautiously optimistic about avoiding the impending indefinite strike threatened by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC).
During a lengthy meeting held in Abuja on Sunday, the government unveiled a series of surprising offers, including a significant pay increase of N25,000 for all “treasury-paid” federal workers.
President Bola Tinubu set the stage for this unexpected development in his Independence Day speech when he announced the wage hike. While initially intended to benefit “low-grade” workers and ease the impact of fuel subsidy removal, the offer has opened the door to renewed negotiations between labor unions and the government.
In a statement released by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, it was emphasized that “NLC and TUC will consider the offers by the Federal Government with a view to suspending the planned strike to allow for further consultations on the implementation of the resolutions above.”
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The meeting, conducted virtually, was presided over by Femi Gbajabiamila, the Chief of Staff to the President, with the participation of Governors Abdulrazak Abdulrahman of Kwara State and Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, who joined remotely.
The labor delegation was led by NLC President Joe Ajaero, Deputy President of TUC Dr. Tommy Etim Okon, NLC General Secretary Emma Ugboaja, and TUC General Secretary Nuhu Toro, among others.
The offers from the Federal Government, outlined in a press statement, include:
- A provisional wage increment of N25,000 for all treasury-paid federal government workers for six months.
- Fast-tracking the provision of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses to alleviate public transportation difficulties stemming from the removal of PMS subsidy.
- Commitment to providing funds for micro and small-scale enterprises.
- Waiving VAT on diesel for the next six months.
- Initiating payments of N75,000 to 15 million households at N25,000 per month for a three-month period from October to December 2023.
As the news broke, the labor unions and the government stressed the importance of resolving the dispute through dialogue and avoiding a strike that would negatively impact the nation.
Labor unions, advocating for higher wage awards, received assurances that their requests would be presented to President Bola Tinubu for further consideration.
A sub-committee will be established to work out the implementation details of all government interventions designed to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal.
Furthermore, the longstanding issue involving the Road Transport Employees Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) and the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Lagos State will be urgently addressed, with Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu committing to its resolution.
The crucial next steps hinge on NLC and TUC’s assessment of the government’s offers and the potential suspension of the impending strike to facilitate further consultations on the proposed resolutions.
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