BREAKING UPDATE:NLC STRIKE UPDATE-NLC TO HOLD HER NEC MEETING TODAY, RECONVENES LATER TODAY TO BRIEF FG ON ITS DECISION

The meeting between the Federal Government and Organised Labour, yesterday ended in deadlock as leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and their Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, counterparts, rejected the government’s offers.

However, the meeting between FG, NLC and TUC will continue today,as both parties will reconvene at 4pm today,after NLC NEC meeting with her Members.

Sources at the meeting told our correspondent that the labour leaders rejected President Bola Tinubu’s N25,000 provisional wage award for low-grade worker to cushion the effect of the removal of petrol subsidy.

The labour leaders told Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, to prepare to take all of them to jail because the government had been threatening them with court order, saying “this is not acceptable.”

Recall that President Tinubu in his nationwide broadcast, on the occasion of Nigeria’s 63rd Independence Anniversary, had said: “Based on our talks with labour, business and other stakeholders, we are introducing a provisional wage increment to enhance the federal minimum wage without causing undue inflation.

‘’For the next six months, the average low-grade worker shall receive an additional Twenty-Five Thousand naira per month.

“Commencing this month, the social safety net is being extended through the expansion of cash transfer programmes to an additional 15 million vulnerable households.”

However, it was reliably gathered that Organized Labour in its meeting with the Federal Government team at the Permanent Conference Room, Presidential Villa, Abuja, rejected the N25,000 provisional wage award and demanded for 200 per cent of the current minimum wage.

Besides, Labour insisted that the provisional wage increase should be for all workers, pending the enactment of a new Minimum Wage Act next year and must not be limited to only six months.

The labour leaders equally insisted that the conditional cash transfer for the poorest and vulnerable people should be increased to N25,000 for 15 million vulnerable Nigerians, against the N5,000 the previous administration was paying.

After many hours of horse-trading, the Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, who is leading the government’s delegation, broke the meeting for the government team to consult with the President on the new demands

Some other issues raised by the NLC and TUC leaders included tax rebate for low income earners, removal of Value Added Tax, VAT, on diesel for the next six months and provision of Compressed Natural Gas, CNG, buses within the next two months.

The meeting that commenced at about 3.25 pm, ended around 7.15 pm to reconvene by 4 pm today.

Labour’s NEC to meet today on government offers

The NEC is expected to take a position and give the leaders the new mandate to take to the government.

But briefing journalists after the meeting, the Chief of Staff to the President and leader of the government team, Femi Gbajabiamila, announced that Tinubu accepted organized labour’s demand that the wage award be across board.

He said: “We’ve been at a closed-door meeting with labour and government side since three o’clock. So, it’s been about four hour meeting.

“A lot of issues were addressed. Issues that concern the Nigerian workers, the average Nigerian worker. I can’t begin to reel them out here. But I am happy to say that after four hours, we have reached certain agreements that is for the benefit of the Nigerian worker.

“Agreements on wage bill, agreements on committees on salary increment, CNG buses, on several other things, I believe both labour and government side?

“Hopefully, we expect that labour will call a meeting of their various branches and executive tomorrow (today) to present the agreements that have been reached, and we pray and believe and hope that the strike will be called off tomorrow.

“So I want to once again thank Labour for taking time out on a good Sunday like this one when they should be with their families to come and discuss in the interest of the workers. Thank you very much.

FG, meeting with NLC, TUC ends in deadlock

“There was a lot of chatter on Twitter about the issue of low income workers only falling into the category of the provisional wage increase. And we did communicate with the president and he quickly did say and agreed that all categories of workers will be given the wage bill.

‘’There is nothing like low income, mediun income or high income. I think it was worthy of clarification tonight.”

Making clarification on the N25,000 provisional wage award , he said: “There was a lot of chatter on Twitter about the issue of low-income workers only falling into the category of the wage bill.’’

Also speaking, the President of NLC, Joe Ajaero said: “I don’t have much to say than what the Chief of Staff has said. We have been meeting and we have looked at almost all the issues, all the promissory notes from the government.

‘’We will look at how to translate them to reality. Then we are going to take those promises to our organs. Of course, you know these people here cannot just wake up and review and call off action.

“So like he (Gbajabiamila) said, we are hopeful that our organs will have a look at them and give us a fresh mandate on what to do next. So it’s a simple one.”

On his side, the acting President of TUC, Tommy Etim Okon, said: “We do hope that by tomorrow, we are going to meet with our organs.”

Sources at the meeting noted that the government team had wanted organized labour to announce a suspension of the indefinite strike which it declined.

According to the statement, the meeting resolved that “the issues in dispute can only be resolved when workers are at work and not when they are on strike.

“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.

“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.

“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.

“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.

The Labour delegation was led by NLC President, Joe Ajaero, Deputy President, TUC, Dr Tommy Etim Okon, NLC General Secretary, Emma Ugboaja, Secretary, Nuhu Toro, TUC General, among others.

Meanwhile, Organised Labour has ordered the state councils and affiliates to ensure total compliance with the nationwide strike directive.

Not leaving anything to chance, organized labour has also set up a strike zonal coordinating committee towards the success of the indefinite nationwide strike.

In a circular by Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, General Secretary, Emmanuel Ugboaja, to all the 36 state councils and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, NLC directed the councils to hold joint meetings with the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, and work together to ensure total compliance with the strike directive.

The circular, titled “Indefinite nationwide strike”, read: “In furtherance to the notice of the indefinite nationwide strike scheduled to commence on Wednesday, October 3, 2023, all chairpersons of NLC state councils are kindly requested to take immediately the following steps to ensure a successful outcome.

‘’To immediately send a circular notifying all affiliate unions and workers in their states on the need to comply with the strike. Ensure that their respective compliance teams leave no stone unturned in discharging their responsibilities, especially in areas of strategic importance to the overall success of the action.

“Hold joint meetings with the TUC and work together to ensure total compliance with the essence of the action; continue providing the progress reports of their activities as the action begins to the national secretariat and the platforms.

“The success of this action is critical for the survival of workers and the masses. That this will happen is dependent on our collective determination and commitment. No one else can do it for us.”

Similarly, NLC and TUC have inaugurated zonal strike coordinating committees to work with state councils, affiliates and other allies to effectively prosecute the strike.

It was gathered that the coordinating committees were inaugurated on Saturday