Labour-FG Face Off: Uncertainty as Waiting Game Continues

106692 strike uncertainty as fg nlc meeting ends in deadlock
106692 strike uncertainty as fg nlc meeting ends in deadlock

Several hours after the Federal Government’s marathon meeting with the organised labour, uncertainty hovers around the nation’s workforce.

In a last-minute effort to stop the planned nationwide strike by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) on October 3, the Federal Government called for a meeting. The meeting, which commenced at 2 pm on Sunday, was held at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Representatives of the two leading workers’ unions met with the Federal Government delegation, led by Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, the Chief of Staff to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The meeting was attended by several ministers and government officials, as well as the Governors of Kwara State and Ogun State, who participated virtually.

During a nationwide broadcast to mark the country’s 63rd independence anniversary, President Tinubu announced a 25 per cent increase in salary for junior civil servants for a period of six months. However, at the Sunday meeting, the pay was raised to N35,000 and extended to all categories of federal employees.

The Federal Government also made several other commitments, including the provision of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses to ease public transportation difficulties, funds for micro and small-scale enterprises, and a waiver on VAT for diesel for the next six months. Additionally, the government pledged to commence payment of N75,000 to 15 million households at N25,000 per month for a three-month period from October to December 2023.

While urging the labour unions to shelve the planned strike, the government emphasized that the issues in dispute can only be resolved when workers are at work and not on strike. The government team promised to present the labour unions’ request for higher wage awards to President Tinubu for further consideration.

However, it remains unclear what the next line of action will be for the organised labour, especially as the resolutions reached during the meeting primarily focused on federal employees, leaving state workers feeling neglected. State chapters of the labour unions are concerned about the lack of all-encompassing agreements, as many states have yet to implement the N30,000 minimum wage or make consequential adjustments.

The labour unions are scheduled to meet at 11 am on Monday to take a definite stand on the strike. State chairmen of the unions await proper briefings from the leadership of the NLC before making informed decisions.

As the waiting game continues, uncertainty lingers over the nation’s workforce, awaiting a resolution that addresses the concerns of both federal and state workers.

Tags:
Scroll to Top