October 01, (THEWILL) – As part of efforts to avert the planned nationwide strike by organized labour, President Bola Tinubu has approved the extension of wage awards to all categories of Federal Government workers.
Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, disclosed this on Sunday evening, while briefing State House correspondents on the outcome of the meeting between representatives of the Federal Government and leaders of Organised Labour led by Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC)
President Tinubu, on Sunday, in his Independence Day BroadÂcast, announced a N25,000 salary increment for low-grade workers as part of measures to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal.
THEWILL reports that organised labour met with representatives of the Federal Government on Sunday, in Abuja.
The meeting held at the State House’s Chief of Staff’s Conference Room in Abuja, had Gbajabiamila, Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong; Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkiruka Onyejeocha, and various other high-ranking government officials in attendance.
After the long fruitful meeting, the following resolutions were reached:
i) The issues in dispute can only be resolved when workers are at work and not when they are on strike.
ii) Labour Unions argued for higher wage award and the Federal Government Team promised to present Labour’s request to President Bola Tinubu for further consideration.
iii) A sub-committee to 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.
iv) The lingering matter of Road Transport Employees Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) and National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Lagos State needs to be addressed urgently and Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who participated virtually, pledged to resolve the matter.
v) NLC and TUC will consider 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.
Gbajabiamila expressed confidence that the planned nationwide strike by organized labour will definitely be suspended by Tuesday.
On his part, NLC President, Joe Ajaero, who led organized labour to the meeting, told State House correspondents that the agreement reached would be presented to the various organs of the Unions on Tuesday.
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