After an intensive meeting with representatives of the federal government on Sunday, organized labour would hold meetings with members of their National Executive Committee on Monday and take a final decision on the indefinite strike action scheduled to commence on Tuesday October 3.

But, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) said on Sunday that they will consider the offers by the Federal Government with a view to reviewing their position on the planned strike action.

The meeting with the federal government is expected to be concluded today and it is believed that a sub-committee will be constituted to work out the details of implementation of all items for consideration regarding government interventions to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in a national broadcast on Sunday morning had announced N25,000 only as provisional wage increment for all treasury-paid federal government workers for six months. But few hours later President Bola Ahmed Tinubu changed his position and approved the increment of the provisional wage award for all treasury paid federal workers to N35,000.

In addition,the Federal Government said it is committed to fast-tracking the provision of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses to ease public transportation difficulties associated with the removal of PMS subsidy.

Also, the Federal Government commits to the provision of funds for micro and small-scale enterprises and VAT payment on diesel will be waived for the next 6 months. The Federal Government also promised to commence payment of N75,000 to 15 million households at N25,000 per month, for a three-month period from October-December 2023.

In their resolution after the meeting, both the federal government team and the organised labour agreed the issues in dispute can only be resolved when workers are at work and not when they are on strike. Labour Unions, according to the resolution argued for higher wage award and the Federal Government Team promised to present Labour’s request to President Bola Tinubu for further consideration.

The labour leaders also brought to the table the lingering issue of Road Transport Employees Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) and National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Lagos State which needed to be addressed urgently stressing that Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who participated virtually, pledged to resolve the matter.

Minister of Information and National Orientation Mallam Mohammed Idris in a statement issued on Sunday night said governor Abdulrazak Abdulrahman of Kwara State and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) and Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, participated virtually in the meeting, chaired by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila.

Also in attendance were the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mr. Mohammed Idris, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong, the Minister of State, Labour, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Doris Uzoka-Anite, the Head of Service of the Federation, Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan and the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.

The labour team was led by NLC President, Joe Ajaero, Dr Tommy Etim Okon, Deputy President, TUC, NLC General Secretary, Emma Ugboaja, TUC General Secretary, Nuhu Toro, among others.

As part of the last minutes efforts to avert the impending indefinite industrial action by organised labour on October 3, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has granted some concessions to meet the demands of labour mid-way. One of these is the increment of the provisional wage award for all treasury paid federal workers to N35,000.

During his Independence Day broadcast, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu announced that the government had approved a N25,000 raise for low-cadre employees for a period of six months. He also said that the government would speed up the process of introducing CNG buses to help with nationwide transportation.

Other highlights from the meeting were:

i) The Federal Government urged the Labour unions not to embark on strike action as the issues in dispute can only be resolved when workers are at work.

ii) Labour Unions made case for higher wage award.

iii) A sub-committee to be constituted to work out the details of implementation of all items regarding government interventions to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal.

iv) The lingering matter of Road Transport Employees AssoOther ciation of Nigeria (RTEAN) and National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Lagos State needs to be addressed urgently.

v.) 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
The labour delegation was led by NLC President, Joe Ajaero, Dr Tommy Etim Okon, Deputy President, TUC, NLC General Secretary, Emma Ugboaja, and TUC General Secretary, Nuhu Toro, among others”.
The labour union leaders have agreed to consult with their members about the next steps in light of the development. Therefore, Nigerians are keeping their fingers crossed for the industrial action that is supposed to start tomorrow.