The organised labour, comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), has suspended its proposed strike scheduled for tomorrow, Wednesday over the removal of fuel subsidy by the federal government.
The suspension of the planned strike followed a meeting between Labour and officials of government, DAILY GIST learnt in the wee hours of Tuesday.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, who read the communique at the end of the meeting between organised labour and the federal government.
According to the speaker, the federal government, the TUC and the NLC are to establish a joint committee to review the proposal for any wage increase and a framework and timeline for implementation.
He said the federal government, the TUC and the NLC are to review the World Bank-financed cash transfer scheme and propose inclusion of low-income earners in the programme. They are also to revive the CNG conversion programme earlier agreed with Labour centres in 2021 and work out detailed implementation and timing.
He said, “The Labour centres and the federal government are to review issues hindering effective delivery in the education sector and propose solutions for implementation.
“The Labour centres and the federal government are to review and establish the framework for completion of the rehabilitation of the nation’s refineries. The federal government is to provide a framework for the maintenance of roads and expansion of rail networks across the country.
“All other demands submitted by the TUC to the federal government will be assessed by the joint committee.”
Consequently, Gbajabiamila said the parties agreed that the NLC will suspend the notice of strike forthwith to enable further consultations, while the TUC and the NLC are to continue the ongoing engagements with the federal government to ensure the realization of the resolutions above.
The Labour Centre and the federal government are to meet on June 19, 2023, to agree on an implementation framework, the speaker added.
On his part, the NLC President said “These are the framework for us to follow in achieving some of the agreements reached here.
“You can see that not is yet in concrete terms. So, at the adjourned date, we will go into more specifics to make sure this knotty issue is resolved.”
Asked if the strike had indeed been suspended, Ajaero said “I thought that the speaker read it out.”
The President of TUC, Festus Osifo, said the organised labour are committed to resolving the issues raised and alleviating the suffering of those vulnerable Nigerians following the discontinuance of subsidy.
However, he urged the FG to take the resolutions seriously.
“So I want us to commit to get these issues resolved as soon as possible.
“So for us from labour, we are totally committed to get these issues resolved for the benefit of Nigerians,” Osifo said.
In attendance were the former Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, Mele Kyari, Hon. James Faleke, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Kachollom Daju are among others representing the FG.
The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele and former Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, later joined the government’s delegation.
