NLC, TUC suspend planned strike over petrol subsidy removal

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) have suspended the proposed strike over the removal of the petrol subsidy. 

The labour unions announced the suspension after a meeting of their leaders and representatives of the federal government on Monday.

They are to reconvene on June 19 for further negotiations.

TheCable had reported that members of the NLC, led by Joe Ajaero, the president, arrived at the presidential villa at about 5:45pm on Monday.

The NLC was absent at the meeting between government delegation and organised labour on Sunday.

Representatives of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) were however in attendance.

Shortly after the commencement of Monday’s sit-down, TheCable reported that the national industrial court had restrained TUC and NLC from embarking on strike .

Olufunke Anuwe, the presiding judge, said the unions should halt the planned strike pending the hearing and determination of the ex parte motion filed by the federal government.

During his inaugural speech on May 29, President Bola Tinubu declared that “petrol subsidy is gone”.

The president’s pronouncement led to a resurfacing of queues at petrol stations and a hike in the pump price of the product across the country.

The labour unions had subsequently demanded that the new price template should be reversed to the old pump price.

RESOLUTIONS REACHED AT THE MEETING

At the end of Monday’s meeting, organised labour and the government’s team agreed to establish a joint committee to review the proposal for any wage increase or award — and establish a framework and timeline for implementation.

Part of the resolution was for 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 joint team is expected to review issues hindering effective delivery in the education sector and propose solutions for implementation as well as establish the framework for completion of the rehabilitation of the nation’s refineries.

The federal government is to also provide a framework for the maintenance of roads and the expansion of rail networks across the country.