NLC and TUC negotiate 15-point deal with FG  ( See Details)

On Tuesday, the Federal Government and organised labour signed a 15-point memorandum of understanding.

In a last-ditch effort to prevent the scheduled nationwide walkout, the deal was struck.

It happened following a meeting between the two parties, the second in 24 hours.

Representatives of the Nigerian Labour Congress, the Trade Union Congress, and the Federal Government all signed the memorandum of understanding.

specifics below:

MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT SIGNED ON MONDAY, OCT. 2, 2023, BETWEEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA, THE NIGERIA LABOUR CONGRESS (NLC), AND THE TRADE UNION CONGRESS OF NIGERIA (TUC), AS A RESULT OF DISPUTE RELATED TO THE WITHDRAWAL OF SUBSIDY ON THE PRICE OF PREMIUM MOTOR SPI

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) issued a strike notice that had already passed, and they were prepared to go on strike that was scheduled to start on Tuesday, October 3, 2023, as a result of the Federal Government removing its subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and the resulting increase in the price of the commodity. In order to prevent the strike, the Federal Government summoned a meeting, and following lengthy deliberation, the following agreements were made:

1. Starting in September and until a new national minimum wage is expected to have been enacted into law, the Federal Government awards a wage award of N35,000 (thirty-five thousand Naira) to all Federal Government employees.
2. Within one month after the date of this agreement, a minimum wage committee must be established.
3. Starting in October 2023, the federal government will stop collecting Value Added Tax (VAT) on diesel.
4. The federal government consents to allocating N100 billion for the purchase of large CNG buses for Nigeria’s mass transit system. While construction on state-of-the-art CNG stations across the country continues, plans are also being prepared for the initial 55,000 CNG conversion kits that will serve as the foundation of an auto gas conversion programme. The deployment is planned to start in November with pilot programmes on 10 campuses around the country.
5. The federal government intends to launch a number of tax incentive programmes for the public and commercial sectors.
6. The Federal Government pledges to handle labour issues in accordance with the ILO Conventions and Nigerian Labour Acts in light of the leadership problems roiling the NURTW and the alleged proscription of RTEAN. It is anticipated that the present deadlock would be broken by October 13 or earlier.
7. The Ministry of Labour and Employment has been tasked with additional engagement on the issue of unpaid salaries and wages of tertiary education employees working in federally owned educational institutions.
8. Starting in October 2023, the Federal Government agrees to provide 15 million households, including vulnerable seniors, with N25,000 each month for three months.
9. The federal government will step up its efforts to subsidise fertiliser distribution to farmers across the nation.
10. The Federal Government should encourage State Government to establish salary awards for their employees through the National Economic Council and Governors Forum. Workers in the private sector and municipal government should be given the same attention.
11. The Federal Government pledges to provide the monies for micro and small businesses that the President promised to provide in his August 1 broadcast to the nation. Beneficiaries of MSMEs should pledge to uphold the idea of respectable employment.
12. To determine the refineries’ state of rehabilitation, a joint visitation will be made.
13. All parties agree to follow the social dialogue’s rules in all of our upcoming interactions.
14. The planned Indefinite Nationwide Strike due to start on Tuesday, October 3, 2023, has been postponed for 30 days by the NLC and TUC.
15. Within one (1) week, the Federal Government must file this Memorandum as a consent judgement with the appropriate court of competent jurisdiction.