The organised labour is considering suspending its planned strike after reaching five resolutions with the Federal Government on Sunday.
Bellnews reports that the resolutions, which were announced in a statement by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mallam Mohammed Idris, include a provisional wage increment of N35,000 for all treasury-paid federal government workers for six months; the provision of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses to ease public transportation difficulties associated with the removal of PMS subsidy; the provision of funds for micro and small-scale enterprises; a waiver of VAT on diesel for the next six months; and the commencement of payment of N75,000 to 15 million households at N25,000 per month for a three-month period from October-December 2023.
The statement also said that the parties agreed that the issues in dispute can only be resolved when workers are at work and not when they are on strike. It also said that a sub-committee will be constituted to work out the details of the implementation of all items for consideration regarding government interventions to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal.
The 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.
The meeting was chaired by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, and was attended by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; the Minister of Information and National Orientation, 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 delegation 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.