. TUC demands N200,000 minimum wage
. To resume negotiations June 19 after 7-point agreement with FG
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and Trade Union Congress (TUC), have suspended the planned strike scheduled to commence tomorrow to protest the removal of subsidy on premium motor spirit (PMS) popularly called petrol.
The NLC had called out all its affiliate unions to a nationwide strike effective on Wednesday, June 7, if the NNPC Limited did not withdraw the new fuel pricing template and revert to the old rate.
The decision to suspend the strike was part of a seven-point agreement reached yesterday at a meeting between representatives of the Federal Government and the union leaders.
The announcement was contained in a statement signed by Festus Osifo and Nuru Toro for the TUC, Joe Ajaero and Emmanuel Ugboaja for the NLC, while Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila and Kachollom Daju, Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Labour signed for the Federal Government.
The following resolutions were reached:
- 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 inclusion of low-income earners in the program.
- 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 timing.
- 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 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.
Based on the above, the parties agreed to reconvene for further negotiations on June 19, while the NLC suspends the planned strike to enable further consultations.
Also, the TUC and the NLC are to continue the ongoing engagements with the Federal Government and secure closure on the resolutions above and to agree on an implementation framework.
NLC President, Joe Ajaero and his team had arrived at the Presidential Villa yesterday at about 5:45 pm for the meeting, which lasted for almost six hours after shunning the gathering on Sunday.
Ajaero had accused the Government of using underhand tactics in its dealings with organised labour on the issue of the fuel subsidy removal.
The Federal Government, the TUC and the NLC are to establish a joint committee to review the proposal for any wage increase or award and establish a framework and timeline for implementation.
Court injunction
Ahead of the outcome of yesterday’s meeting, the National Industrial Court, Abuja, granted an interim order restraining the NLC and TUC from proceeding with their scheduled strike set to commence on Wednesday.
The order was sequel to an application by the federal government, which was hinged on the heavy impact the strike scheduled to commence on Wednesday, June 7, would have on all aspects of the economy.
The suit marked: NCIN/ABJ/158/2023 had as defendants NLC and TUC, while the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) were listed as the claimants.
Justice O. Y. Anuwe said the order will remain in effect until the motion on notice is determined, saying: “This is a situation of extreme urgency that will require the intervention of this court.
“Having therefore considered the totality of this application, I make the following orders: the defendants/respondents are hereby restrained from embarking on the planned industrial action/or strike of any nature, pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice dated June 5, 2023.
“It is ordered that the defendant/respondents be immediately served with the originating processes in this suit, the Motion on Notice and the order of this court hereby made.”
The court also fixed June 19 for further hearing on the matter.
Labour and government are to design a framework that will be geared towards the reduction of cost of governance by 15% in 2024, and 30% by 2025.
TUC demands
Notwithstanding the agreements reached with the Federal Government, the TUC also made various demands for negotiations to continue.
In its 14-point demand for instance, TUC sought an increase in the national minimum wage from the current N30,000 per month to N200,000 before the end of June 2023, with consequential adjustment on Cost of Living Allowance (COLA), like feeding, transport, housing, etc.
Additionally, it demanded for “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 and 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 two per cent for the next 10 years where the fluctuation is more than two per cent; the minimum wage will automatically increase at the same rate.
“Setting up of an 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 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 subsidized 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 setting 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 employers 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 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.”
TUC also said 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 roads and expand the rail networks across the country. Government must design a framework for social housing policy for workers through a 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 federal government is also to provide a framework for the maintenance of roads and the expansion of rail networks across the country.
