The Federal Government and the labour unions, on Sunday reached agreement on the palliative measures put in place to mitigate the impacts of removed fuel subsidy.
The truce followed the emergency meeting called by the Federal Government to dissuade the labour unions from embarking upon the proposed strike action scheduled for Tuesday, October 3.
A statement at the end of the meeting by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mallam Mohammed Idris on Sunday noted that both parties agreed on the N25,000 provisional wage increment for all treasury-paid federal government workers for six months.
President Bola Tinubu announced this his Independence Day broadcast on Sunday.
The meeting also had the Federal Government committing to fast-tracking the provision of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses to ease public transportation difficulties associated with the removal of PMS subsidy.
In addition, the Federal Government also commits to the provision of funds for micro and small-scale enterprises and waiver for Value Added Tax (VAT) on diesel for the next 6 months.
In addition, the Federal Government will commence payment of N75,000 to 15 million households at N25,000 per month, for a three-month period from October-December 2023.
As such, the meeting resolved that the issues in dispute between both parties can only be resolved when workers are at work and not when on strike.
Although the labour unions argued for higher wage award, the Federal Government team promised to present the request to President Tinubu for further consideration.
The meeting also agreed that a sub-committee should 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.
Further to this, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who participated virtually, is mandated to wade into the lingering crisis between the Road Transport Employees Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) and National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in the State.
Subsequently, the NLC and TUC is said to reconsider 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 Kwara State who is also the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF),Governor Abdulrazak Abdulrahman and Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, participated virtually in the meeting, chaired by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila.
Also in attendance were the Ministers of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris; Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong and the Minister of State, Labour, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha.
Others are the Ministers of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu; Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu and Industry, Trade and Investment, Doris Uzoka-Anite.
Also in attendance were 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.
