Anxiety Mounts As FG, Organized Labour Meeting Ends In Deadlock

Palpable anxiety has mounted in the country following the inability of the federal government delegation and those of the Organized Labour to agree on vexious issues leading up to the intended industrial action scheduled by labour unions to begin on Tuesday, October 3. 

The meeting, which held between the feuding groups comprising FG delegation and those of the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, and the Trade Union Congress, TUC, has been rescheduled to reconvene at 4pm Monday. 

FreshNews gathered that among others, leaders of Organized Labour turned down a number of FG's proposals, including the N25,000 provisional wage award for low-grade workers.

In its place, Organized Labour is insisting on a N200 % spike on current minimum wage for workers, insisting that the minimum wage must be for all categories of workers and must not be limited to half a year as insisted by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in his independence day broadcast. 

Organized Labour is equally insisting that against the N5, 000 conditional cash transfer for 15 million vulnerable Nigerians termed, 'poorest and vulnerable people', the amount should be increased to N25,000. 

Among others, organized labour wants tax rebates 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.

Following the breakdown of negotiation and subsequent rejection of FG's position, leaders of organized labour insist on going ahead with the planned industrial action, daring the Attorney-General and minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, to prepare to jail all of them, ostensibly in the face of threats by the FG to take them to court. 

Meanwhile, leader of the Federal government delegation to the meeting, and Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, disclosed to newsmen that the FG has agreed to spread the wage award across board as demanded by organized labour. However, he was silent on the 200 % increment on minimum wage. 

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

“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 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 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.

In his response, President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero agreed with Gbajabiamila but insists on tabling areas of agreement and others before Labour organs for consideration and appropriate response.

“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.”

Like Ajaero, Acting President of the TUC, Tommy Etim Okon, noted that the outcome of the meeting will be taken back to the Congress for further deliberations. 

“We do hope that by tomorrow, we are going to meet with our organs.”

Specifically however, the federal government says it will not only fast track the provision of the promised CNG buses to ease public transportation difficulties, it will also commit funds to micro and small scale enterprises, adding that VAT on diesel will be waived for six months. It also insisted that it will be better to have workers in their different offices while negotiations continue on other spheres. 

“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 six months.

“The Federal Government will commence payment of N75,000 to 15 million households at N25,000 per month, for a three-month period from October-December 2023," FG said in a statement.