Organised labour discloses details of agreements reached with FG

In the early hours of Monday, September 28, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) suspended the planned nationwide strike to the relief of the Nigerian government.

The labour groups had planned to embark on the strike to force the federal government to reduce the recently increased price of petrol and electricity tariffs.

Some Nigerians who had been expecting the strike to commence on Monday were disappointed when the labour unions announced the suspension.

Both NLC and TUC have, however, issued a communique explaining why the strike was suspended.

According to the communique published by The Nation, the strike was suspended after the organised labour and the federal government reached some agreements.

Legit.ng gathers that one of the agreements include readiness of the federal government to distribute palliatives which would ameliorate the sufferings of Nigerian workers.

The palliatives, according to the labour leaders, will be in the areas of transport, power, housing, agriculture and humanitarian support.

It was also agreed that an inclusive committee would be set up to examine the justifications for the policies that led to an increase in the price of petrol and electricity tariffs.

The federal government also agreed with the organised labour on the need to increase the local refining capacity of the nation to reduce the dependence on the importation of petroleum products.

The Nigerian government assured the labour leaders that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) will expedite the rehabilitation of the nation’s refineries.

The government also agreed to facilitate the delivery of licensed modular and regular refineries.

To cushion the effects of the increase in the petrol price in the meantime, the federal government said it will make available a specific amount yet to be disclosed in two weeks’ time which will be accessed by Nigerian workers for participation in agricultural ventures through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Ministry of Agriculture.

The Nigerian government also agreed to facilitate the removal of tax on minimum wage.

In addition, 133 CNG/LPG driven mass transit buses will be given to organised labour immediately and will be deployed to the major cities across the country.

The government also agreed to allocate 10% housing to the Nigerian workers under the ongoing Ministry of Housing and Finance initiative.

The communique was signed on behalf of the organised labour by the NLC president Ayuba Wabba, TUC president Quadri Olaleye, and other principal leaders.