Labor Suspends Nationwide Strike: Organized labor has decided to suspend its planned nationwide strike for one month following negotiations with the Federal Government. The strike was intended to address the challenges faced by Nigerians due to the removal of petrol subsidies.
Late-Night Agreement
The agreement between labor unions and the government was reached late at night after several meetings and negotiations. Details of the Memorandum of Understanding are yet to be fully disclosed.
Joint Resolution
The National Executive Council (NEC) of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) held separate meetings to review the government’s offers. They later formed a committee to harmonize their resolutions.
Government’s Response
The government returned to the meeting after a delay, causing frustration among labor leaders. President Bola Tinubu had previously accepted a provisional wage award of N35,000, which labor rejected, insisting on a universal wage increase.
Key Resolutions
Among the resolutions reached during the negotiation were the recognition that issues could only be resolved with workers at work, a sub-committee to address the effects of fuel subsidy removal, and resolving disputes between road transport unions in Lagos.
Solidarity from Pro-Labor Groups
The Joint Action Front (JAF), representing pro-labor civil society groups, commended the determination of NLC and TUC. They expressed support for the struggle against anti-poor and neo-liberal policies, emphasizing the need for fundamental changes rather than just palliatives.
Demands for True Reversal
JAF called for the reversal of the fuel price hike and subsidy removal, public ownership of the oil and gas sector, democratic control and management of the sector, and a complete reversal of the hike in school fees at universities and other institutions.
Continued General Strike
JAF emphasized that suspending the general strike based on promises from the government would be a risky move, as previous promises often went unfulfilled. They argued that only by addressing the root causes of the crisis could the suffering of workers and the poor be alleviated.
Conclusion
Labor Suspends Nationwide Strike: suspension of the nationwide strike represents a temporary reprieve in the ongoing labor-government negotiations. The key challenge ahead lies in ensuring that promises made during negotiations are upheld, addressing the root causes of economic challenges, and ultimately improving the living standards of Nigerians.
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