By Cross Udo, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu yesterday succumbed to the new demands of the Organised Labour that workers across the board should benefit from the provisional wage increment and not only the average low-grade worker to cushion the effect of the removal of petrol subsidy.
This came as the leaderships of the two labour centres, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) have agreed to meet with their various organs to convey the new agreement with the Federal Government on the palliatives and wage award to workers.
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 N35,000 per month.
“Commencing this month, the social safety net is being extended through the expansion of cash transfer programs to an additional 15 million vulnerable households.”
It was reliably gathered that the Organised Labour in their meeting with the Federal Government team at the Permanent Conference Room, Presidential Villa, Abuja, rejected the earlier N25,000 provisional wage and demanded the wage to be 100 per cent of the current minimum wage.
Besides, labour insisted that the provisional wage should be for all workers and that it will not be limited to only six months but rather be running till when the new minimum wage is approved next year.
The Organised Labour also insisted that the Conditional Cash Transfer for the poorest and vulnerable people should be increased to N25,000 and not 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 delegation at the meeting has to break, to go and consult with the President on the new demands
Gbajabiamila was accompanied by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong.
READ ALSO:Ilebaye wins BBNaija All Stars
*President says gesture meant to cushion effects of fuel price hike for six months
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 the Organised Labour’s demand that the wage award should be across the 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 an hour meeting.
“A lot of issues were addressed. Issues that concern the Nigerian worker, 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 are for the benefit of the Nigerian worker.
“Agreements on the wage bill, agreements on committees on salary increment, CNG buses, on several other things, I believe, both TUC Labour and government side?
“Hopefully, we expect that Labour will call a meeting of their various branches and executive tomorrow to present the agreements that have been reached, and we pray and we believe and we hope that the strike will be called off on Tuesday.
“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.
“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. 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, median income, or high income. I think that it was worthy of clarification tonight.”
Clarifying the N25,000 provisional wage increment, 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. They spotted that and we communicated that to Mr President and he quickly said and agreed that all categories of workers will be given the wage bill. There’s nothing like low-income, mid-income, or high-income. I think that’s worthy of clarification tonight.”
*NLC, TUC reconvene to consider the offer, may suspend the planned nationwide strike
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’ve been meeting and we’ve looked at almost all the issues, all the promissory notes from the government and we’ll look at how to translate them to reality and to be workable. Then we’re 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 as he (Gbajabiamila) said, we’re hopeful that our organs will have a look at them and give us a fresh mandate on what next to do. 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 said that the government team had wanted the organised labour to announce the suspension of the indefinite strike, but they declined to do.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has experienced optimism that the organised labour may suspend the proposed indefinite strike slated to commence on October 3.
A statement issued by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mallam Mohammed Idris, explained that the meeting was aimed at coming up with measures to address the dispute arising from the removal of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).
According to the statement, “The parties noted the following: The Federal Government has announced N25,000 only as provisional wage increment for all treasury-paid federal government workers for six months.
“The Federal Government is committed to fast-tracking the provision of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses to ease public transportation difficulties associated with the removal of PMS subsidy.
“The Federal Government commits to the provision of funds for micro and small-scale enterprises. VAT on diesel will be waived for the next 6 months.
“The Federal Government will commence payment of N75,000 to 15 million households at N25,000 per month, for three months from October-December 2023.”
On the resolutions reached at the meeting, the Minister said, “In light of the discussions held during the meeting, the following resolutions were reached: 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 awards 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 to suspend the planned strike to allow for further consultations on the implementation of the resolutions above.
“Governor Abdulrazak Abdulrahman of Kwara State Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) and Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, participated virtually in the meeting, chaired by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila.
“Also in attendance were the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong, the Minister of State, Labour, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Doris Uzoka-Anite, the Head of Service of the Federation, Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan and the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.
“The labour delegation was led by NLC President, Joe Ajaero, Deputy President, TUC, Dr Tommy Etim Okon, NLC General Secretary, Emma Ugboaja, TUC General Secretary, Nuhu Toro, among others.”
