Breaking News : Indefinite Nationwide Strike Suspended in Nigeria for 30 days

The planned nationwide indefinite strike action by organised labour has been called off for at least the next month.

The agreement was made public on Monday when Channels TV reported that President Joe Ajaero of the NLC and General Secretary Emmanuel Ugboaja of the TUC had signed a memorandum of understanding.

 

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, and Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong, all put their names on the three-page document.

 

As part of the MoU, the NLC and TUC agreed to delay the start of their indefinite nationwide strike by 30 days, from Tuesday, October 3, 2023.

 

“The federal government provides a salary supplement of N35,000.”

 

Naira) beginning in September to all federal government employees until a new national minimum wage is implemented.

 

adopted as a law”

 

The decisions were reached after a marathon meeting on Monday that included representatives from the Federal Government, the NLC, and the TUC.

 

For the complete MoU, see here:

 

A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WAS REACHED BETWEEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA AND THE NIGERIA LABOUR CONGRESS (NLC) AND THE TRADE UNION CONGRESS OF NIGERIA (TUC) ON MONDAY, THE 2ND DAY OF OCTOBER, 2023, REGARDING THE DISPUTE CONCERNING THE REMOVAL OF THE SUBSIDY ON

 

After the federal government removed its subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), causing the price of the commodity to rise, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) issued a strike notice that had since expired, and they were preparing to embark on a strike that was scheduled to begin on Tuesday, October 3, 2023. Therefore, the federal government convened a meeting to prevent the strike, and the subsequent agreements were as follows:

 

Starting in the month of September, until a new national minimum wage has been expected to have been signed into law, the federal government grants a wage award of N35,000 (thirty-five thousand Naira) only to all federal government employees.

 

Within one month of the effective date of this Agreement, a Minimum Wage Committee shall be formed.

 

Beginning in October 2023, the federal government will not collect VAT on Diesel for a period of six months.

 

The Nigerian government has agreed to allocate N100 billion (about $1.65 billion) to purchase high-capacity compressed natural gas (CNG) buses for public transportation. Work is currently underway on state-of-the-art CNG stations across the country, and provisions have been made for an initial 55,000 CNG conversion kits to kick start an auto gas conversion programme. Ten campuses across the country will serve as pilots for the rollout, which is scheduled to begin in November.

 

The federal government is planning to enact a number of tax incentive measures, both for businesses and individuals.

 

Concerning the NURTW’s leadership crises and the alleged banning of RTEAN, the Federal Government promises to address labour issues in accordance with applicable ILO Conventions and Nigerian Labour Laws. The current standoff should be resolved by October 13 at the latest.

 

Workers in the tertiary education sector at federally owned institutions have had their salary and wage arrears referred to the Ministry of Labour and Employment.

 

Starting in October 2023, 15 million households, including vulnerable pensioners, will receive N25,000 per month from the federal government for a total of three months.

 

Subsidised fertiliser distribution programmes for farmers will receive more attention from the federal government.

 

The Federal Government should encourage State Government to implement wage award for their workers through the National Economic Council and Governors Forum. Local government employees and private sector workers should be treated similarly.

 

According to the President’s address to the nation on August 1st, the federal government will provide funding for micro and small businesses. MSMEs receiving aid should pledge to uphold the value of good employment.

 

The refineries will be visited jointly to check on their rehabilitation progress.

 

In all future interactions, the parties hereto agree to abide by the principles of social dialogue.

 

The NLC and TUC have agreed to delay the start of the nationwide indefinite strike that was set to take place on Tuesday, October 3, 2023, by 30 days.

 

The Federal Government will file this Memorandum as a consent judgement with the appropriate Court of Competent Jurisdiction within one (1) week.

 

Signed:

 

NLC:

 

Mr. Joe Ajaero, Communist

 

First Vice President of the NLC

 

Emmanuel Ugboaja, mni, comrade

 

Secretariat General

 

TUC:

 

Festus Osifo, Engr., Comrade

 

President

 

Nuhu A. Toro, Communist

 

The General Secretary

 

U.S. Central Government:

 

Minister Lalong Simon Bako

 

Minister of Labour and Employment, Honourable

 

Dr. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, with Honours

 

Distinguished Minister of Labour and Employment

 

Idriss Mohammed Malla

 

Respected Ministers

 

ter of Knowledge and Patriotism