Fuel Subsidy: NLC Threatens Strike as Talks Resume With Tinubu
- The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has revealed that it may head into an industrial action if the federal government tries to be cunning
- This hint was given by the vice president of the NLC, Adewale Adeyanju, on Sunday, June 19
- He stated this in the build-up to the NLC's meeting with representatives of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Aso Rock Villa
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FCT, Abuja - The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has disclosed plans to go on strike if negotiations break down with the federal government amid the ongoing disagreement on the removal of fuel subsidy and minimum wage increase.
As reported by Punch, talks will resume between the labour union and the federal government to resolve the demands presented to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
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The NLC had pitched to the federal government an increase in the minimum wage from N30,000 to N150,000 following the removal of the fuel subsidy.
In the previous meeting held between the government and the NLC, the chief of staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, who represented the federal government, noted that a seven-point resolution to cushion the effect of the subsidy removal had been agreed between both parties.
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He added that a joint committee had been instituted and saddled with the responsibility of reviewing the proposal for increasing the minimum wage.
Gbajabiamila said:
“The Federal Government, the TUC and the NLC to review the World Bank Financed Cash transfer scheme and propose the inclusion of low-income earners in the programme.
“The Federal Government, the TUC and the NLC to revive the CNG conversion programme earlier agreed with Labour centres in 2021 and work out detailed implementation and timing.”
NLC threaten to strike if?
Reacting in the build-up to the meeting between the NLC and the federal government slated for Monday, June 19, the Vice President of the union, Adewale Adeyanju, said industrial action is imminent if the government acts funny.
He revealed that many requests had been presented before the government, including revamping Nigeria's refineries.
Adeyanju said:
“There are a lot of things that labour has been putting before the government. The refineries need to be revamped. We cannot continue to import refined petroleum products and be spending on subsidies all the time.
“Labour has its set of demands, and by the time we meet with the government tomorrow, we will list them out again.”
He stated that the strike had only been suspended because of the government's approach to meeting with them over the issue at hand.
Adeyanju, on Sunday, June 18, said they are willing to hear what the government has to offer, and if it does not meet the standards of their demand, the strike will commence.
He added:
"The strike was only suspended. It was an ultimatum that was given out and it (strike) was suspended.
“So let’s hear what the government has for us and then we will know what to tell our members. It is about the lives of the people. Let’s meet them tomorrow and then labour will come out with its position.”
Aborted Strike: 7 key agreements Tinubu’s govt sealed with NLC, TUC
Meanwhile, earlier in June, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) suspended their strike schedule.
The decision followed a meeting by the representatives of the FG and the organised labour at the Presidential Villa over fuel subsidy removal.
The chief of staff to the president, Femi Gbajabiamila, disclosed that FG sealed agreements with NLC and TUC on the issues arising from subsidy removal.
Source: Legit.ng
