Subsidy removal: What FG, organised labour agreed to during Monday meeting

The Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress suspended their planned industrial strike scheduled to take off on Wednesday after a dialogue with the Federal Government on Monday.

The meeting later led to the signing of documented agreement between the organized labour and the Federal Government.

The meeting agreed, among others that the agreement would constitute some committees to look into contentious issues.

The document got by theeditorial.ng reads:

Resolution of engagement between the Trade Union Congress (TUC), the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Federal Government to resolve the issues associated with the removal of subsidy on premium motor spirit (petrol) on June 5, 2023.

Following the engagements between the federal government, TUC and the NLC, with the intervention of the Speaker, House of Representatives, to resolve the disputes that arose from the withdrawal of subsidy on PMS, the following resolutions were reached.

1 The federal government, the TUC and the NLC to establish a joint committee to review the proposal for any wage increase or award and establish a framework and timeline for implementation.

2. The federal government, the TUC and the NLC to review World Bank-financed cash transfer scheme and propose inclusion of low-income earners in the program.

3. The federal government, the TUC and the NLC to revive the CNG conversion program earlier agreed with the labour centres in 2021 and work out detailed implementation and timing.

4. The labour centres and the federal government to review issues hindering effective delivery in the education sector and propose solutions for implementation.

5. The labour centres and the federal government to review and establish the framework for completion of the rehabilitation of the nation’s refineries.

6. The federal government to provide a framework for the maintenance of roads and expansion of rail networks across the country.

7. All other demands submitted by the TUC to the federal government will be assessed by the joint committee.

Consequently, the parties agreed as follows:

A. The NLC to suspend the notice of strike forthwith to enable further consultations.

B. The TUC and the NLC to continue the ongoing engagements with the federal government and secure closure on the resolutions above.

C. The labour centres and the federal government to meet on June 19, 2023, to agree on an implementation framework.

The document was signed by Festus Osifo, the TUC president; Joseph Ajaero, the NLC president Mrs Kachollam Daju, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment;   Femi Gbajabiamila, Speaker of the House of Representatives.