The Organised Labour has suspended its proposed strike action after meeting with President Bola Tinubu. The President of the Trade Union Congress, Festus Osifo, made this known during an interview with Arise News on Thursday morning.
Osifo said that the Labour leaders extracted some commitments from President Tinubu to some of the issues raised during the meeting for immediate implementation. These commitments included:
- The immediate rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt refinery to ensure that it starts producing fuel by December 2023.
- The establishment of a national economic council to advise the government on economic matters.
- The implementation of a new minimum wage of N30,000.
Osifo said that the suspension of the strike was based on these commitments from President Tinubu. He said that the Labour leaders would continue to monitor the implementation of these commitments and would not hesitate to take further action if they are not met.
The decision by the Organised Labour to suspend the strike is a welcome development. It is a sign that the government is willing to listen to the concerns of the Nigerian people and that it is committed to addressing these concerns. However, it is important to note that the suspension of the strike is only temporary. The Labour leaders have made it clear that they will not hesitate to take further action if the government does not meet its commitments.
The removal of fuel subsidy has been a major source of discontent in Nigeria. The subsidy was put in place to keep the price of fuel affordable for ordinary Nigerians. However, the government has argued that the subsidy is no longer sustainable and that it needs to be removed in order to save money.
The removal of the fuel subsidy has led to a sharp increase in the price of fuel. This has put a strain on household budgets and has made it more difficult for people to afford to travel and to run their businesses.
The decision by the Organised Labour to suspend the strike is a positive development. However, it is important to continue to monitor the situation and to ensure that the government meets its commitments. If the government does not meet its commitments, the Labour leaders have made it clear that they will not hesitate to take further action.