NLC, TUC suspends planned nationwide strike

The Nigeria Labour Congress NLC, has suspended its Tuesday’s planned industrial action for thirty days to compel the government to implement agreements reached between them.

At the signing of the agreements that made the unions to soften grounds, the Minister of Labour, Mr Simon Lalong, said the government was appreciative of the unions’ considerations.

Signing the agreements, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Joe Ajaero, warned that the unions would embark on strike if the government reneged on its commitments.

While aligning with his counterpart, the President of the Trade Union Congress, Comrade Festus Osifo, hoped that the government be committed to the implementation of their agreements.

Several documents were signed,
According to the documents signed, government has agreed to implement the 35,000 Naira salary award to federal civil servants from last month, September, pending when a new national minimum wage is expected to have been signed into law.

Consequently, it is agreed that a minimum wage committee shall be inaugurated within one month from the date of this agreement, while collection of Value Added Tax on Diesel is suspended for six months beginning from this month.

The government has also accepted to vote 100 billion Naira for the provision of high capacity CNG buses for mass transit in the country, while initial 55,000 CNG conversion kits to kick start an auto gas conversion programme will be provided, commencing by November with pilots across 10 campuses nationwide, whose state-of-the-art CNG stations is ongoing nationwide.

Tax incentive measures

It says government plans to implement various tax incentive measures for private sector and the general public.

On the leadership crises rocking the National Union Road Transport Workers and the purported proscription of Road Transport Employees Association of Nigeria, the government has committed to handling Labour matters in line with relevant ILO Conventions and Nigerian Labour Acts, pointing out that resolution of the ongoing impasse is expected by or before October 13.

The meeting agreed that the outstanding salaries and wages of tertiary education workers in federal-owned educational institutions be referred to the Ministry of Labour and Employment for further engagement.

N25,000 per month

Similarly, the government has made commitment to pay N25,000 per month for three months, starting from next month, to 15 million households, including vulnerable pensioners, and that it will increase its initiatives on subsidised distribution of fertilisers to farmers across the country.

It also agreed that the government should urge State Government, through the National Economic Council and Governors Forum, to implement wage award for their workers, urging that similar consideration be given to local government and private sector workers.

Accordingly, the government has committed to the provision of funds as announced by the President in his recent nationwide broadcast to the Nation for Micro and Small Scale Enterprises.

Refineries

It is also agreed that a joint visitation will be made to the refineries to ascertain their rehabilitation status, and that all parties are committed to henceforth abide by the dictates of social dialogue in future engagements.Abdullah Bello

The Federal Government and the Organised Labour had resumed meeting at the Chief of Staff Conference Room of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The meeting on Monday October 2, was to brief the representatives concessions the government on the resolutions reached by the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress.