The country's labour giants Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), have suspended the strike scheduled to commence today, Monday September, 28, after much pressure. The decision to shelve the strike to protest the increment in fuel prices and electricity tariffs by the unions was pegged on the agreement reached with the Federal Government at a meeting on Sunday conducted between 8:30 pm and 2:50am. They agreed to review their decision in another two weeks during which the DISCOs shall suspend the application of the cost-reflective electricity tariff adjustment. According to the agreement between the federal government and organized labour both parties agreed to set up a technical committee on Electricity Tariff reforms comprising Ministries, Agencies, Departments, NLC and TUC, to review policy and look into the justification of the increase.
The technical committee is to be headed by the Minister of State for Labour and Labour, Festus Keyamo.
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, read the five-page communique signed by the representatives of the government and labour.
The NLC President, Ayuba Wabba; and his Trade Union Congress counterpart, Quadri Olaleye, amongst others signed on behalf of Organised Labour while the Minister of Labour, Chris Ngige; Minister of State Petroleum, Timipre Silva; Minister of State Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo (SAN); Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed; and the Secretary to Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha and others, signed on behalf of the government.
TUC President Olaleye said, “Definitely correct. We just left a press conference. We signed a document to suspend the action for two weeks for the government to implement those things that we agreed in the agreement. So, we are suspending for two weeks.
“We don’t need a notice again to re-convene if there is a need to do that.”
The federal government has also rolled out palliatives to cushion the economic impact that may be brought to bear by the hike in electricity tariffs and the deregulation of the downstream sector of the petroleum industry. The palliatives will be in the areas of transport, power, housing, agriculture and humanitarian support.
The unions also emphasized that they will not hesitate to resume on the strike should the government fail to meet the agreement after the two weeks window.
Many Nigerian are however not optimistic about the agreement, after they have shown readiness to participate in the protest and strike, they want it suspended indefinitely not just for 2 weeks until there is a justification for the price increments.
