Following further consultations with the Federal Government delegation that met with the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), President Bola Tinubu on Sunday approved N35,000 provisional wage award for all treasury-paid federal government workers for six months.
At the meeting held on Sunday between the Federal Government and the organised labour, the government pledged its commitment to fast-track the provision of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses to ease public transportation difficulties associated with the removal of PMS subsidy and also announced its commitment to the provision of funds for micro and small-scale enterprises as well as waivers on VAT on diesel for the next 6 months.
A statement by the Minister of Information and National Orientaion, Mr. Mohammed Idris said that the Federal Government has also announced that it will commence payment of N75,000 to 15 million households at N25,000 per month, for a three-month period from October-December 2023.
Idris said that in light of the discussions held during the meeting between the Federal Government and Labour representatives, the government urged the Labour unions not to embark on strike action as the issues in dispute can only be resolved when workers are at work.
This was even as the Labour Unions made case for higher wage award after which it was agreed that a sub-committee will be constituted to work out the details of the implementation of all items regarding government interventions to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal.
Mohammed also said that the lingering matter of Road Transport Employees Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) and National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Lagos State needs to be addressed urgently.
The Information minister also said that the NLC and TUC are expected to consider the offers by the Federal Government with a view to suspending the planned strike to allow for further consultations on the implementation of the resolutions above.
It was however gathered that President Tinubu had to approve additional N10,000 for workers for a period of six months following the Labour unions rejection of the N25,000 earlier announced on his Independence broadcast to the nation.
At the meeting chaired by Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to the President, it was agreed that the N25,000 which the president promised low-cadre workers for six months would be made available to all workers.
The presidency had to quickly follow up with statement announcing the additional N10,000 increase.
