Government and Labour Reach Agreement to Avert Nationwide Strike.
In a crucial turn of events, the Federal Government of Nigeria has successfully negotiated an agreement with the leadership of organized labor, thereby averting a proposed strike scheduled to commence on Tuesday, October 3. The strike notice came in response to the removal of the fuel subsidy and the consequent increase in petrol prices.
After a meeting called by the Federal Government to address the impending strike, negotiations continued on Monday, lasting until just before 11 pm. Chief of Staff to the President, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, and Labor and Employment Minister, Hon Simon Lalong, led the government team, while NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, represented the labor delegation.
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Key agreements reached during the negotiations include:
1. The Federal Government will grant a wage award of N35,000 to all Federal Government workers starting from September, pending the signing of a new national minimum wage into law.
2. A minimum wage committee will be inaugurated within one month from the date of this agreement.
3. The Federal Government will suspend the collection of Value Added Tax (VAT) on Diesel for six months, starting from October 2023.
4. The Federal Government will allocate N100 billion for the provision of high-capacity CNG buses for mass transit in Nigeria. Initial provisions will include 55,000 CNG conversion kits to kickstart an auto gas conversion program, along with the establishment of state-of-the-art CNG stations nationwide, commencing in November with pilot programs across 10 campuses.
5. The Federal Government will implement various tax incentive measures for the private sector and the general public.
6. On the leadership crises within NURTW and the purported proscription of RTEAN, the Federal Government commits to addressing labor matters in line with relevant ILO Conventions and Nigerian Labor Acts, aiming for a resolution by or before October 13.
7. Outstanding Salaries and Wages of Tertiary Education workers in Federal-owned educational institutions will be referred to the Ministry of Labor and Employment for further engagement.
8. The Federal Government will provide N25,000 per month for three months, starting from October 2023, to 15 million households, including vulnerable pensioners.
9. The Federal Government will enhance its initiatives for the subsidized distribution of fertilizers to farmers nationwide.
10. The Federal Government will encourage State Governments through the National Economic Council and Governors Forum to implement wage awards for their workers, extending consideration to local government and private sector workers.
11. The Federal Government commits to providing funds for Micro and Small Scale Enterprises, emphasizing the principle of decent jobs.
12. A joint visitation will be conducted to the refineries to assess their rehabilitation status.
13. All parties commit to abide by the principles of Social Dialogue in all future engagements.
14. The NLC and TUC have agreed to suspend the planned indefinite nationwide strike scheduled to begin on Tuesday, October 3, for a period of 30 days.
15. This Memorandum of Understanding will be filed with the relevant Court of competent jurisdiction within one week as a consent judgment by the Federal Government.
This agreement represents a significant development in labor relations in Nigeria, with the potential to address several pressing issues affecting workers and the general populace.
