JUST IN: Organised Labour Suspends Nationwide Strike for 30 Days

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have announced the suspension of the indefinite nationwide strike that was set to begin on Tuesday, October 3, 2023. This decision comes following extensive negotiations between the labor unions and the Federal Government.

The strike action has been deferred for a period of 30 days, during which time the government is expected to fulfill some of its commitments. A memorandum of understanding was jointly signed by key representatives of both the unions and the government.

The memorandum, signed by Comrade Joe Ajaero, President of NLC, Comrade (Engr) Festus Osifo, TUC President, Comrade Emmanuel Ugboaja, General Secretary of NLC, and Comrade Nuhu A. Toro, Secretary-General of TUC, outlines several crucial agreements reached during the negotiations.

One of the key points of agreement is the implementation of a wage award of N35,000 for all Federal Government workers, effective from September. Additionally, a committee to address the national minimum wage will be inaugurated within the next month.

Furthermore, the Federal Government has decided to suspend the collection of Value Added Tax (VAT) on Diesel for a period of six months, starting from October 2023. In a bid to enhance mass transit in the country, the government will allocate N100 billion for the provision of high-capacity Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses. This initiative will also include CNG conversion kits and state-of-the-art CNG stations across Nigeria.

The government plans to implement tax incentive measures for the private sector and the general public. Additionally, the ongoing leadership crises in the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and the purported proscription of the Road Transport Employers’ Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) will be addressed in accordance with relevant labor laws.

Outstanding salaries and wages of tertiary education workers in federal-owned educational institutions will be referred to the Ministry of Labour and Employment for further discussions.

The Federal Government will provide financial support of N25,000 per month for three months, starting from October 2023, to 15 million households, including vulnerable pensioners. There will also be increased initiatives for the subsidized distribution of fertilizers to farmers nationwide.

The government will encourage state governments, through the National Economic Council and Governors Forum, to implement wage awards for their workers and consider similar measures for local government and private sector employees.

Furthermore, the government is committed to providing funds for Micro and Small Scale Enterprises (MSMEs), in line with the President’s previous announcement on this matter.

Both parties have agreed to conduct a joint visitation to refineries to assess their rehabilitation status. Lastly, the memorandum emphasizes a commitment to abide by the principles of social dialogue in all future engagements.

In light of these agreements, the NLC and TUC have mutually agreed to suspend the planned indefinite nationwide strike for a duration of 30 days, starting from October 3, 2023. It is expected that 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 development brings relief to the nation as the specter of a nationwide strike is temporarily averted, allowing for further negotiations and implementation of critical measures for the welfare of workers and the general populace.