Hours after the National Industrial Court (NIC) in Abuja stopped their action, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) on Monday night agreed to shelve their proposed nationwide strike slated for tomorrow (Wednesday) over the removal of fuel subsidy and subsequent increase in the pump price of the product from N189 to as much as N550 per litre.
The decision followed a meeting by the representatives of the federal government and the organised labour at the presidential villa.
The dialogue was the third in a series of meetings between the government and key labour centers after President Bola Tinubu, announced the discontinuance of petroleum subsidy in his inaugural speech on May 29.
The speaker of the house of representatives and chief of staff to the president, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, disclosed the outcome of the meeting to journalists in a communiqué.
The communiqué reads: “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, resolutions were reached that:
“The federal government, the TUC and the NLC would establish a joint committee to review the proposal for any wage increase or award and establish a framework and timeline for implementation.
“The federal government, the TUC and the NLC to review the World Bank Financed Cash transfer scheme and propose inclusion of low-income earners in the program,” the notice said.
“The federal government, the TUC and the NLC to revive the CNG Conversion programme earlier agreed with labour centres in 2021 and work out detailed implementation and timing.
“The labour centres and the federal government to review issues hindering effective delivery in the education sector and propose solutions for implementation.
“The labour centres and the federal government to review and establish the framework for the completion of the rehabilitation of the nation’s refineries.
“The federal government to provide a framework for the maintenance of roads and the expansion of rail networks across the country. All other demands submitted by the TUC to the federal government will be assessed by the joint committee.”
“The TUC and the NLC are to continue the ongoing engagements with the federal government and secure closure on the resolutions (above).
“The labour centres and the federal government to meet on June 19, 2023, to agree on an implementation framework.”
Recall that the NLC, TUC and their affiliates had strategised to begin a nationwide strike tomorrow following the hasty withdrawal of subsidy on petrol and the attendant backlash on the average citizenry.
Earlier yesterday, Justice Olufunke Anuwe of the NIC barred the two organisations from proceeding with the strike, pending the determination of a suit that was brought before it by the federal government.
She court held that the interim order, as well as the substantive suit, should be immediately served on both the NLC and the TUC.
