Fuel Subsidy Removal: How the FG and Labour Unions Averted a Nationwide Strike

The planned nationwide strike over fuel subsidy removal by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) has been suspended after a meeting with the federal government on Monday night.

The meeting, which was held at Aso Villa, was attended by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, who disclosed the outcome of the negotiations.

According to him, both parties agreed to set up a joint committee to review the proposal for any wage increase or award and establish a framework and timeline for implementation.

They also agreed to review the World Bank Financed Cash transfer scheme and propose inclusion of low-income earners in the programme, as well as address issues hindering effective delivery in the education sector and propose solutions for implementation.

Other areas of agreement include:

• The completion of the rehabilitation of the nation’s refineries and the maintenance of roads and expansion of rail networks across the country.
• The assessment of all other demands submitted by the TUC to the Federal Government by the joint committee.
• The suspension of the notice of strike by the NLC to enable further consultations and secure closure on the resolutions.

The resolution was endorsed by the Presidents and Secretaries of the NLC and TUC, and Ms Kachollom Daju, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labour Employment.

The NLC and TUC had threatened to embark on nationwide strike on Wednesday over the increase in fuel pump price from N197 per litre to over N500, following the announcement of a new price template by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPC) last week.

However, the National Industrial Court in Abuja had ordered the Labour unions not to embark on strike, pending the hearing of a suit filed by a civil society group.

The federal government had defended the fuel subsidy removal as a necessary step to address the challenges in the petroleum sector and ensure economic recovery.

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