Strike called off: 7 important agreements reached between the government and unions

THE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) won seven major agreements with the Federal Government on Monday, June 5, before halting its planned statewide strike on Wednesday, June 7.

According to the ICIR, the union was planning its first significant nationwide walkout in eight years, but the employees backed down after striking an agreement with the government.

The NLC launched the strike in order to force the government to reverse its decision to eliminate the petrol subsidy.

While the National Labour Council (NLC) was rallying its members across the country’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, a sister union, the Trade Union Congress (TUC), was negotiating with the Federal Government to avoid a strike.

The TUC also advised the Federal Government on how to avoid the impending catastrophe.

To prevent the workers union from going on strike, the Federal Government petitioned the National Industrial Court in Abuja for an ex-parte injunction halting the walkout.

On Monday, June 5, Justice O. Y. Anuwe of the National Industrial Court ordered the employees to cease their planned strike until the government’s case against them was resolved.

Meanwhile, another government team led by Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to the President and Speaker of the House of Representatives, met with Joe Ajaero’s NLC and the TUC.

The sides reached an agreement on the following, which resulted in the suspension of the scheduled walkout on Monday night.

• The Federal Government, the TUC and the NLC to establish a joint committee to review the proposal for any wage increase or award and establish a framework and timeline for implementation. 
• The Federal Government, the TUC and the NLC to review the World Bank Financed Cash transfer scheme and propose the inclusion of low-income earners in the programme.
• The Federal Government, the TUC and the NLC to revive the CNG conversion program earlier agreed with labour centres in 2021 and work out detailed implementation and tinting. 
• The Labour centres and the Federal Government to review issues hindering effective delivery in the education sector and propose solutions for implementation. 
• The Labour centres and the Federal Government to review and establish the framework for the completion of the rehabilitation of the nation’s refineries. 
• The Federal Government to provide a framework for the maintenance of roads and the expansion of rail networks across the country. 
• All other demands submitted by the TUC to the Federal Government will be assessed by the joint committee. 

The parties also agreed on the following:

• The NLC to suspend the notice of strike forthwith to enable further consultations.
• The TUC and the NLC to continue the ongoing engagements with the Federal Government and secure closure on the resolutions above.
• The Labour centers and the Federal Government to meet on June 19, 2023, to agree on an implementation framework. 

The sides reached an agreement, which resulted in the postponement of the scheduled strike on Monday night.

Source: icirnigeria.org