By Cross Udo, Abuja
The Trade Union Congress (TUC) of Nigeria, has submitted its demand list to the government which includes payment of N200,000 as the minimum wage and subsidy on food items.
The demand is a fallout of the removal of subsidy of subsidy that was done by the former administration which has triggered a hike in the petroleum price as well as goods and services.
TUC also demanded that the government should revert to the old pump price of petrol to allow a conducive environment for negotiation.
The demand list was contained in a statement issued by Comrades Festus Osifo and Nuhu Abba Toro, TUC President and Secretary General respectively.
The demands according to the statement are: “For Immediate Implementation: Status quo ante of PMS pump price should be maintained while discussion continues.
“Minimum wage should be increased from the current N30,000 to N200,000 before the end of June 2023 with consequential adjustment on Cost of Living Allowance (COLA), like feeding, transport, housing, etc.
“A representative of state governors will be party to this communique and all the governors must commit to implement the new minimum wage.
“Tax holiday for employees both in government and private sector that earn less than N200, 000 or 500USD monthly whichever is higher.
“PMS Allowance to be introduced for those earning between N200, 000 to N500, 000 or 500USD to 1,200USD whichever is higher.
“The Exchange rate for retailing PMS in the country must be kept within a limit of +- 2% for the next ten (10) years where the fluctuation is more than 2%, the minimum wage will automatically increase at the same rate.”
Others are, “Setting up of intervention fund where the government will be paying N10 per litre on all locally consumed PMS. The primary purpose of this fund is to solve perennial and protracted national issues in education, health, and housing. A governance structure that will include labour, civil society, and the government will be put in place to manage the implementation.
“Federal government should provide mass transit vehicles for all categories of the populace. State Governments should immediately set up a subsidised transportation system to reduce the pressure on workers and students. The framework around this will be worked out.
“Immediate review of the National Health Insurance Scheme to cover more Nigerians and prevent stock of drugs. Visitation of the refineries that are currently undergoing rehabilitation to ascertain the state of work and set up a timeline for its completion.
“The president should direct whoever will be labour minister to immediately constitute the National Labour Advisory Council (NLAC). This platform will be used by the government, labour, and employer to discuss issues and policies of the government that may affect workers and all other mandates as specified in the law.
“Provision of subsidy directly for food items, the 800million dollars could be a first step. The existing National Housing Fund (NHF) should be made accessible to genuine workers; the framework on this must be discussed and agreed upon.”
TUC also said that the medium term would include the “deployment of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) across the country in line with the earlier promise made by the government. The framework and timeline will be developed and agreed by both parties.
“Labour and government to design a framework that will be geared towards the reduction of cost of governance by 15 per cent in 2024 and 30 per cent by 2025. A framework should be immediately put in place to maintain the road and expand the rail networks across the country.
“Government must design a framework for social housing policy for workers through Rent to Own System. The state of electricity in the country must be appraised and an action plan should be defined with timelines on how to get this fixed.”
The Congress said that a strong monitoring team comprising all parties will be constituted.
*As Organised Labour shelves tomorrow’s down tools
Meanwhile, the Organised Labour late yesterday shelved their strike scheduled for tomorrow.
The decision followed a meeting by the representatives of the Federal Government and the Organised Labour at the Presidential Villa over fuel subsidy removal.
Recall that the National Industrial Court had earlier restrained the Organised Labour from embarking on any form of strike.
Ruling on an ex-parte application filed before the court, Justice O.Y. Anuwe restrained the defendants (the TUC and the NLC) from embarking on the planned nationwide strike Wednesday pending the hearing and determination of the motion of notice dated June 5, 2023.
The judge also ordered that the defendants be immediately served with the originating processes, the motion on notice and the order of the court.
The Federal Government and the Attorney General of the Federation are applicant in the matter.
“The urgency enumerated in the affidavit of urgency and in counsel’s submission reveals a scenario that may gravely affect the larger society and indeed the well-being of the nation at large,” court document showed.
“Counsel has pointed that students of Secondary Schools nationwide, especially those writing WAEC exams will be affected; the tertiary institutions who have only just resumed after a long ASUU strike will also be affected, not leaving the health sector, amongst other sectors; and above all, the economy of the nation.
“In my view, this situation of extreme urgency that will require the intervention of this court.”
According to the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), this year’s WASSCE started on May 8 to end on June 23, 2023.
