.To file MoU in court within a week
After a prolonged meeting with the federal government over disputed issues that led to the planned indefinite strike, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have suspended the proposed nationwide action earlier scheduled to begin, Tuesday, the 3rd of October, 2023 for 30 days.
Consequently, the Memorandum of Understanding signed at the end of the meeting shall be filed with the relevant court of competent jurisdiction within one week as consent judgment by the Federal Government.
Arising from the withdrawal of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) by the Federal Government and the resultant increase in the price of the product, the 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, the 3rd of October, 2023.
But in a meeting called by the Federal Government to avert the strike and after much discussion, the following agreements were reached:
“The Federal Government grants a wage award of N35,000 (thirty-five thousand Naira) only to all Federal Government workers beginning from the month of September pending when a new national minimum wage is expected to have been signed into law.
“A minimum wage committee shall be inaugurated within one month from the date of this agreement.
“Federal Government suspends collection of Value Added Tax (VAT) on Diesel for six months beginning from October, 2023.
“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, whilst work is ongoing on state-of-the-art CNG stations nationwide. The rollout aims to commence by November with pilots across 10 campuses nationwide.
“The Federal Government plans to implement various tax incentive measures for private sector and the general public.
“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.
“The issue of outstanding salaries and wages of Tertiary Education workers in Federal-owned educational institutions is being referred to Ministry of Labour and Employment for further engagement.
“The Federal Government commits to pay N25,000 per month for three months starting from October, 2023 to 15 million households, including vulnerable pensioners.
“The Federal Government will increase its initiatives on subsidized distribution of fertilizers to farmers across the country.
“The Federal Government should urge State Government through the National Economic Council and Governors Forum to implement wage award for their workers. Similar consideration should also be given to local government and private sector workers.
“The Federal Government commits to the provision of funds as announced by the President on the 1st of August broadcast to the Nation for Micro and Small Scale Enterprises. The MSMEs beneficiaries should commit to the principle of decent jobs.
“A joint visitation will be made to the refineries to ascertain their rehabilitation status.
“All parties commit to henceforth abide by the dictates of Social Dialogue in all our future engagements.
“The NLC and TUC accept to suspend for 30 days the planned Indefinite nationwide strike scheduled to begin, Tuesday, the 3rd of October, 2023.
“This Memorandum shall be filed with the relevant Court of competent jurisdiction within one (1) week as consent judgment by the Federal Government”,.
The memoradum of understanding after the meeting were signed by Comrade Joe Ajaero, the NLC President, Comrade Emmanuel Ugboaja, the NLC General Secretary, Comrade Festus Osifo, the TUC president, Comrade Nuhu A. Toro, the TUC Secretary General.
Others from the side of the Federal government were the Minister of Labour and employment, Simon Bako Lalong, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Dr Nkeiruka Onyejeocha and Mallam Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation
Recall that President Bola Tinubu had during his inaugural speech, pronounced immediate removal of fuel subsidy, the action that triggered hike in price of petrol from N197 to N617 per litre.
The congress reacted by embarking on a nationwide protest, demanding a reversal of what it described as anti people’s policies targeted at impoverishing the Nigerian people the more.
Government had promised to engage the labour union in a dialogue to fashion out ways of cushioning the effects of the subsidy removal.
But in the communique signed by Comrade Joe Ajaero, president of the congress and Emmanuel Ugboaja, the secretary, the congress said government has failed in its part to proffer solutions to the sufferings of the people.
This led to the two-day warning strike that started from September 5 to September 6, 2023.
