President Bola Tinubu has approved N35,000 provisional wage award for all treasury-paid federal government workers for six months
This followed further consultations between Federal Government delegation and the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and Trade Union Congress TUC in Abuja on Sunday.
During their meeting, the Federal Government also pledged its commitment to fast-track the provision of Compressed Natural Gas, CNG, buses to ease public transportation difficulties associated with the removal of PMS subsidy.
Similarly, the Federal Government committed to the provision of funds for micro and small-scale enterprises, and waivers on VAT on diesel for the next 6 months.
The government also announced that it would commence payment of N75,000 to 15 million households at N25,000 per month, for a three-month period , starting from October to December 2023.
Elaborating the major highlights of the meeting, a statement says the glovernment urges labour unions not to embark on strike, arguing that the issues in dispute can only be resolved when workers are at work.
It explains that labour inions made case for higher wage award, leading to the idea of setting up of a sub-committee to work out the details of implementation of all items regarding government interventions to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal.
According to the statement, the lingering matter of Road Transport Employees Association of Nigeria RTEAN, and the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, in Lagos State needs to be addressed urgently.
Signed by the Minister of Information, Mallam Muhammad Idris, the statement suggests that the unions will consider the government’s offer with a view to suspending the planned strike to allow for further consultations on the implementation of the resolutions reached.
Governor Abdulrazak Abdulrahman of Kwara State and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) and Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, participated virtually in the meeting, chaired by the Chief of Staff to the President, Dr. Femi Gbajabiamila.
Also in attendance were 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.