The Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Federal Government recently made significant promises to Nigerian workers during a meeting with the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Purpose of the Meeting
The purpose of the meeting was to address the disputes arising from the removal of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and outline measures to alleviate the impact on workers.
Key Promises
1. Wage Increment
The Federal Government announced a provisional wage increment of N25,000 (now increased to N35,000) for all treasury-paid federal government workers. This increment will be in effect for six months.
2. Improvement of Public Transportation
The Tinubu government is committed to fast-tracking the provision of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses. This initiative aims to ease the transportation difficulties faced by the public due to the removal of PMS subsidy.
3. Support for Micro and Small-Scale Enterprises
The Federal Government has pledged to provide funds to support micro and small-scale enterprises, recognizing their importance in driving economic growth and creating employment opportunities.
4. Waiver of VAT on Diesel
In a move to mitigate the impact of the subsidy removal, the government will waive the Value Added Tax (VAT) on diesel for the next six months.
5. Support for Households
The Tinubu government will commence the payment of N75,000 to 15 million households, at N25,000 per month, for a three-month period starting from October to December 2023. This financial support aims to alleviate the economic burden faced by households during this time.
The meeting will be ongoing, and discussions are expected to continue today, Monday, October 2, 2023.
