The planned nationwide strike by Organised Labour has been put on hold for a month due to an agreement reached with the Federal Government.
The specifics of the Memorandum of Understanding that led to the suspension of the strike are yet to be disclosed. This agreement was reached late last night after a meeting was reconvened to find common ground and prevent the strike.
“The NLC and TUC accept to suspend for 30 days the planned Indefinite Nationwide strike scheduled to begin, Tuesday, the 3rd of October, 2023,” the MoU reads in part.
The National Executive Council of NLC and TUC had separate meetings earlier yesterday to review the offers made by the Federal Government during Sunday’s meeting.
Following these meetings, a committee was formed by the leaders of NLC and TUC to harmonize their resolutions. The joint resolution was then presented to the government team around 5 pm.
The meeting reconvened at 8.15 pm, much to the displeasure of labour leaders who were on the verge of leaving the venue in frustration.
Recall that Wuzup Nigeria reported that President Bola Tinubu had previously agreed to a provisional wage award of N35,000 demanded by labour, after his initial offer of N25,000 for low-grade workers for six months was turned down.
Labour insisted that this wage award should be applicable across the board and continue until a new minimum wage is negotiated next year.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, issued a statement explaining some of the resolutions from Sunday’s meeting.
According to the statement, it was agreed that disputes can only be resolved when workers are at work and not on strike.
A sub-committee will be formed to work out the details of implementing all items for consideration regarding government interventions to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal.
The ongoing issue between the Road Transport Employees Association of Nigeria and the National Union of Road Transport Workers in Lagos State was also addressed, with Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu pledging to resolve it.
The NLC and TUC will consider the Federal Government’s offers with a view to suspending the planned strike for further consultations on implementing these resolutions.
The organized labour team included NLC President Joe Ajaero, TUC counterpart Festus Osifo, NLC General Secretary Emma Ugbaja, and TUC Secretary General Nuhu Toro among others.
The government team comprised National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, Minister of Finance Wale Edun, Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris, and Minister of State for Labour Nkeiruka Onyejecha.
