June 05, (THEWILL) – The Federal Government and members of Organised labour under the Umbrella of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) have agreed to the suspension of the planned strike scheduled for Wednesday.
The decision was part of an agreement reached at a meeting between the Federal Government and the Union leaders on Monday.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, who read the resolution of the meeting, said an agreement was also reached to set up a joint committee to review the proposal for any wage increase or award and establish a framework and timeline for implementation, adding that the meeting would reconvene on June 19th.
The resolution read thus:
Resolution of Engagement between the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and the Federal Government to resolve the issues associated with the removal of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (Petrol) on June 5, 2023.
Following the engagements between the Federal Government, TUC and the NLC, with the intervention of the Speaker, House of Representatives, to resolve the disputes that arose from the withdrawal of subsidy on PMS, the following resolutions were reached:
1. The Federal Government, the TUC and the NLC to establish a joint committee to review the proposal for any wage increase or award and establish a framework and timeline for implementation.
2. The Federal Government, the TUC and the NLC to review World Bank Financed Cash transfer scheme and propose inclusion of low-income earners in the program.
3. The Federal Government, the TUC and the NLC to revive the CNG conversion program earlier agreed with Labor centres in 2021 and work out detailed implementation and timing.
4. The Labour centres and the Federal Government to review issues hindering effective delivery in the education sector and propose solutions for implementation.
5. The Labour Centers and the Federal Government to review and establish the framework for the completion of the rehabilitation of the nation’s refineries.
6. The Federal Government to provide a framework for the maintenance of roads and expansion of rail networks across the country.
7. All other demands submitted by the TUC to the Federal Government will be assessed by the joint committee
Consequently, the parties agreed follows:
A. The NLC to suspend the notice of strike forthwith to enable further consultations
B. The TUC and the NLC to continue the ongoing engagements with the Federal Government and secure closure on the resolutions above
C. The Labour Centers and the Federal Government are to meet on June 19, 2023, to agree on an implementation framework.
