Leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC has revealed that it will hold a meeting today with its organ to decide the fate of the earlier scheduled industrial action as federal Government awarded a N25,000 provisional wage increase for Nigerian average workers for the next six months. President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero made this known during an interview with state house correspondents yesterday shortly after it concluded meeting with a federal government delegation lead by the Chief of Staff to the president, Femi Gbajabiamila.
Ajaero disclosed that labour has organs which all must be consulted before the industrial action could be shelved but not a unilateral decision for the NLC.
In his statement, “I don’t have much to say than what the Chief of Staff has said. We’ve been meeting and we’ve looked at almost all the issues, all the promissory notes from the government and we’ll look at how to translate them to reality and to be workable.
“Then, we’re going to take those promises to our organs. Of course, you know these people here cannot just wake up and review and call off action.
Ajaero added “So, like he (Gbajabiamila) said, we are hopeful that our organs will have a look at them and give us a fresh mandate on what next to do. So, it’s a simple one”.
In a similar manner, the acting president of the Trade Union Congress, TUC, Tommy Etim Okon, also told journalist that the labour would meet to review the items discussed with the federal government during the meeting today and would come up with a position.
He added the team of the organised labour will convene another meeting today to appraise all issues raised.
Okon said, “Let me, on behalf of the TUC, also point out to the fact that we have had series of conversations surrounding the issue raised and we do hope that by tomorrow (today), we are going to get across to our organs so that we can also look at it and cross-fertilize ideas and see the way forward. I am sure we are coming back again tomorrow (today) for that.”
Also speaking was the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris said President Tinubu has approved N25,000 provisional wage award for all treasury-paid federal government workers for the next six months as further consultation would be ongoing.
During his independence broadcast yesterday, President Bola Tinubu had announced the increment of N25,000 for all grade federal workers.
However, the organised labour demanded for a higher wage award.
The minister said, a sub-committee would be constituted to work out the details of implementation of all items for consideration regarding government intervention in it effort to cushion the effect of hardship Nigerians are facing.
NLC and TUC had last week called for an indefinite strike which was scheduled for 3rd October following the hardship the removal of fuel subsidy has inflicted on Nigerians.
Various workers union across board has demonstrated their willingness to join the labour strike.
Few amongst the union include; the Senior Staff Association of Universities, Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutes and Associated Institutes (SSAUTHRIA); the College of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU), the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, and the Medical & Health Workers Union of Nigeria.
In a different statement, all the above union had directed its members to comply with the labour directive to precede on the industrial action until FG was ready for negotiation.
Meanwhile, the information Minister explained that the federal government had pledged its commitment to fast-track the provision of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses to ease public transportation difficulties associated with the removal of PMS subsidy.
He added, also provision of funds for micro and small-scale enterprises as well as waivers on VAT on diesel for the next six months.
He added that “Furthermore, the Federal Government announced that it will commence payment of N75,000 to 15 million households at N25,000 per month, for a three-month period from October-December 2023”.
The federal government has appealed to the labour that they should shelved the idea of going to strike as all the issues can be discussed only when work is in progress.
The minister further explained that “The lingering matter of Road Transport Employees Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) and National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Lagos State needs to be addressed urgently.
“NLC and TUC will consider the offers by the Federal Government with a view to suspending the planned strike to allow for further consultations on the implementation of the resolutions above”.
Chief of Staff Gbajabiamila said, all cadres of workers in the Federal Civil Service would benefit from the N25,000 wage increment for six months.
Gbajabiamila said, “We have reached certain agreements that are for the benefit of the Nigerian worker.
“Agreements on wage bill, agreements on committees on salary increment, CNG buses, on several other things, I believe, both TUC, labour and government side.”
“Hopefully, we expect that labour will call a meeting of their various branches and executive tomorrow (today) to present the agreements that have been reached and we pray and we believe and we hope that the strike will be called off on Tuesday, the Chief of staff concluded.