Why Nigerian labour suspended proposed strike

ABUJA, Nigeria – Organised labour today suspended the proposed indefinite strike before it was due to commence on Monday, September 28, 2020.  A statement issued by organised labour and representatives of the Federal Government early this morning reached an agreement to suspend the strike.

Parties agreed that deregulation will  stay while government  will roll out palliatives for labour in a period of two weeks. In the meantime, government agreed to suspend electricity tariffs for two weeks while  a joint Committee headed by Minister of State for Labour, Mr. Festus Keyamo will  examine the justification for the new policy.

The  statement was signed by, Comrade Ayuba Wabba and Emmanuel Ugboaja, NLC President  and Secretary for NLC, Williams Akporeha, NUPENG President, Martin Uzoegwu, President, NUEE, Quadri Olaleye and Musa Lawal Ozigi,  President and Secretary TUC, Festus Osifo, President PENGASSAN and Chris Okonwo, President SSAEAC for labour.  

Those who signed in behalf of Government are Boss Mustapha, Secretary to Government of the Federation, and Minister for Labour, Dr. Chris Ngige, Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Mr. Festus Keyamo, Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed,  Minister of State for Power, Mr. Godwin Jedy-Agba and Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr. Timiprey Silver.

Government  also agreed to  facilitate removal of tax on minimum wage,  supply 133 mass transit buses to NLC and  to allocate 10 percent of houses to workers and other palliatives.

For the Downstream sector,  parties agreed that  deregulation  will continue since fuel subsidy has continued to be the conduit pipe for looting the nation’s resources.

Read also, LAYCON WINS BBNAIJA LOCKDOWN

Parties agreed that NNPC will expedite action on    maintenance of refineries and to achieve 50 percent completion for Port Harcourt Refinery by December, 2021.  Besides a validation team, comprising, NEITI, ICRC, PENGASSAN AND NUPENG  is expected to monitor progress of the maintenance.