Fuel price hike: NLC, TUC suspend Wednesday nationwide strike, reach agreement with FG

Oredola Adeola

The proposed nationwide withdrawal of services by the Organised Labour scheduled to begin on Wednesday has been called off following the consensus reached after the consultations with the leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress , Trade Union Congress, the Federal Government team and the Speaker of House of Representative, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila on Monday.

This was revealed in an agreement letter signed by Comrade Engr. Festus Osifo, President, Trade Union Congress and Comrade Joseph Ajaero, President, NLC, Comrade Nuhu Toro, Secretary General TUC and Comrade Emmanuel Ugboala, General Secretary NLC, Ms Kachalam Daju, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Labour and Employment and Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila.

EnergyDay gathered that the organised labour and the Government agreed on the sideline of the issues associated with the removal of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit(petrol).

The parties at the end of the meeting agreed to establish a joint committee to review the proposals for any wage increase or award and establish a framework and timeline for implementation.

They agreed to review the World Bank Financed Cash Transfer scheme and proposed the inclusion of low-income earners in the programme.

The Federal Government and organised Labour also promised to revive the CNG conversion programme earlier agreed with the Labour centres in 2021 and work on our detailed implementation and timing.

The Labour Centre and the Government is also expected to review issues hindering effective delivery in the education sector and propose solutions for implementation.

The Labour Centre and FG also planned to review and establish a framework for the completion of the rehabilitation of the nation’s refineries. The Federal Government provides a framework for the maintenance of roads and the expansion of rail networks across the country.

They also agreed that all other demands submitted by the TUC to the FG will be addressed by the joint committee. Consequently, the parties agreed on the following. That NLC suspends the notice of strike forthwith to enable further consultations.

The TUC and the NLC are to continue the ongoing engagement with the FG and secure closure on the resolution above. The Labour Centre and the FG to meet on June 19, 2023, to agree on an implementation framework.

EnergyDay also gathered that the demands by the TUC earlier raised on meeting that was held at the Presidential Villa on Sunday include, increase in the national minimum wage from N30,000 to N200,000.

The TUC asked the Federal Government to revert to the old fuel pump prices of N195 per litre while negotiations continue.

Other items in the Congress demands are, “The minimum wage should be increased from the current N30,000 to N200,000 before the end of June 2023, with consequential adjustments to the Cost of Living Allowance (COLA), like feeding, transport and housing.

“A representative of state governors will be party to this new minimum wage and all the governors must commit to implementing the new wage.

“A tax holiday for employees both in the government and private sector that earn less than N200,000 or 500USD monthly, whichever is higher.

“We want PMS allowance to be introduced for those earning between N200,000 to N500,000 or 500 USD to 1,200 USD, whichever is higher.

“The exchange rate for retailing PMS in the country must be kept within a limit of +- 2% for the next ten years. Where the fluctuation is more than 2%, the minimum wage will automatically increase at the same rate.

“Setting up an intervention fund where the government will be paying N10 per litre on all locally consumed PMS. The primary purpose of this fund is to solve perennial and protracted national issues in education, health and housing. A governance structure that will include labour, civil society and government will be put in place to manage the implementation.