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From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
A meeting between the Federal Government and organised Labour is already underway, just hours before the workforce’s anticipated nationwide strike.
The meeting, which is a follow-up to the one held on Sunday, is intended to reveal organised Labour’s ultimate decision regarding the concessions made by the government at the engagement on Sunday.
President Bola Tinubu had agreed to a N35, 000, Provisional wage increment demand by labour after his initial N25, 000 approval for the average low grade worker to run for six months which Labour rejected.
Labour, instead, insisted that the provisional wage increment should be across board and run till a new minimum wage expected to be negotiated next year is put in place.
A statement issued by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris explained that some of the resolutions reached at the Sunday meeting were that, “the issues in dispute can only be resolved when workers are at work and not when they are on strike.
“Labour Unions argued for higher wage award and the Federal Government Team promised to present Labour’s request to President Bola Tinubu for further consideration.
“A sub-committee to 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.
“The lingering matter of Road Transport Employees Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) and National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Lagos State needs to be addressed urgently and Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who participated virtually, pledged to resolve the matter.
“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 statement said.
On the federal government’s side are the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu; Minister of Finance, Mr Wale Edun; Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mallam Muhammed Idris; the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Hon Nkiruka Onyejeocha; and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Abdulaziz Abdulaziz.
On the side of the organised Labour are the NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero; President of the TUC, Comrade Festus Osifo; Secretary of the NLC, Comrade Emma Ugbaja; the TUC Secretary General, Nuhu Toro, among others.
Details later…
