NLC, TUC Call Off Strike After Meeting With FG 

According to Femi Gbajabiamila, Speaker of the House of Representatives, the FG, TUC, and NLC would form a joint committee to assess any salary increases proposed to mitigate the impact of fuel subsidy reduction on Nigerians.

By Omotayo Olutekunbi

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) will call off its national strike after meeting with government officials on Monday, June 5, 2023.

The union had vowed to go on a statewide strike on Wednesday, June 7, 2023, over the loss of gasoline subsidies, which caused the price of petrol to rise from N185 to N488.

The National Industrial Court of Nigeria in Abuja ordered the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to call off their scheduled strike.

However, the union called off its scheduled strike after a six-hour discussion between the Federal Government and organized labor on Monday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

At the meeting, the FG and the union agreed that “The NLC will suspend notice of strike forthwith to enable further consultations.

“The TUC and the NLC to continue ongoing engagements with the Federal Government and secure closure on the resolutions.

“The labour centres and the Federal Government to meet on June 19, 2023 to agree on an implementation framework.”

According to Femi Gbajabiamila, Speaker of the House of Representatives, the FG, TUC, and NLC would form a joint committee to assess any salary increases proposed to mitigate the impact of fuel subsidy reduction on Nigerians.

The meeting’s decision also included a proposal by the government and unions to evaluate the $800 million World Bank-financed cash transfer program and recommend including low-income earners.

The committee will also look at difficulties impeding effective delivery in the education sector, the completion of the nation’s refineries, road upkeep, and the extension of rail networks throughout the country.

Gbajabiamila said “all other demands submitted by the TUC to the Federal Government will be assessed by the joint committee.”

After the meeting, the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, said, “These are the framework for us to follow in achieving some of the agreements reached here.

“You can see that not is yet in concrete terms. So, at the adjourned date, we will go into more specifics to make sure this knotty issue is resolved.”

While announcing the suspension of the strike, TUC President Festus Osifo asked the government to take the resolutions seriously.