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Tuesday, June 6, 2023

NLC, other labour unions suspend planned nationwide strike in provisional deal with FG

The federal government had earlier obtained a court order restraining Labour from embarking on a nationwide industrial action on Wednesday.

NLC president Joe Ajaero and President Bola Tinubu
NLC president Joe Ajaero and President Bola Tinubu

The meeting between the federal government and the labour unions ended on Monday with a resolution to reconvene on June 19 to agree on the implementation framework of the resolutions reached.

Femi Gbajabiamila, Speaker of the House of Representatives, who led the government side, disclosed this at the end of a meeting between labour and government representatives at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He said that the meeting agreed on a seven-point resolution to cushion the effect of the subsidy removal on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) on Nigerians.

“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.

“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 programme.

“The Federal Government, the TUC and the NLC to revive the CNG conversion programme earlier agreed with Labour centres in 2021 and work out detailed implementation and timing,” Mr Gbajabiamila said.

Compressed natural gas (CNG) is a fuel gas mainly composed of methane, compressed to less than 1 per cent of the volume it occupies at standard atmospheric pressure.

It is the cleanest burning fuel operating today and brings about less vehicle maintenance and longer engine life.

Mr Gbajabiamila added that meeting also agreed to review issues hindering effective delivery in the education sector and propose solutions for implementation.

“The labour centres and the federal government to review and establish the framework for completion of the rehabilitation of the nation’s refineries.

“The federal government 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,” he added.

He also that the NLC agreed to suspend the notice of strike forthwith to enable further consultations as well as continue the ongoing engagements and secure closure on the resolutions.

The resolution was signed by the presidents and secretaries of the NLC and TUC, and Kachollom Daju, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labour Employment.

Earlier on Monday, the national industrial court barred the TUC and NLC from going on strike.

Olufunke Anuwe, the presiding judge, delivered the ruling on Monday and instructed the unions to halt their planned strike until the ex parte motion submitted by the federal government has been heard and decided.

During his inauguration speech on May 29, President Bola Tinubu declared that “petrol subsidy is gone”.

The president’s pronouncement immediately led to a resurfacing of queues at petrol stations and a hike in the pump price of the product across the country.

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