Labour unions temporarily suspend indefinite strike in Nigeria
Labour unions in Nigeria on Monday said they were suspending an indefinite strike that was set to begin on Tuesday after last minute talks with President Bola Tinubu’s government.
The government had earlier warned that the strike could damage the country’s shaky economy.
Tinubu is under pressure to ease economic hardships after he scrapped a decades-old petrol subsidy and allowed the naira currency to depreciate, leading to soaring prices in Africa’s biggest economy and major oil producer.
The government agreed a temporary wage increase for government workers, a three-month income subsidy for 15 million poor households and a pause in a value-added tax on diesel, among several concessions to prevent the strike.
In return, unions will suspend the strike for 30 days while negotiations continue, including on a new minimum wage for all Nigerian workers.
“After 30 days if these issues are not implemented … it will show bad faith on the side of government,” Joe Ajaero, the leader of Nigeria Labour Congress, the country’s largest labour federation, told reporters.
Governors, ministers and other officials attended the meeting chaired by Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu.
In a communique issued after the meeting, the union announced that the strike had been suspended for 30 days.
The communiqué also mandated the Minister of Labour to look into the withheld salaries of university staff.
It was signed by the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, and General Secretary, Emmanuel Ugboaja; as well as the TUC President, Festus Osifo, and Secretary General, Nuhu Toro.
Members of the federal government team who also signed are Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong; Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Dr Nkeiruka Onyejeocha; and Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris..
“The NLC and TUC accept to suspend for 30 days the planned Indefinite Nationwide strike scheduled to begin, Tuesday, the 3rd of October, 2023.”
“The Federal Government grants a wage award of N35,000 (thirty-five thousand Naira) only to all Federal Government workers beginning from the month of September pending when a new national minimum wage is expected to have been signed into law.
“The issue of outstanding Salaries and Wages of Tertiary Education workers in Federal-owned educational institutions is being referred to the Ministry of Labour and Employment for further engagement.” it read partly.
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