Federal Government Announces Key Measures Amid Labor Negotiations

In a meeting chaired by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, and attended by key government officials and labor union representatives, the Federal Government has unveiled several significant measures aimed at addressing ongoing labor disputes and providing economic relief to citizens.

Here are the key announcements and resolutions:

Provisional Wage Increase: The Federal Government has declared a provisional wage increment of N25,000 for all treasury-paid federal government workers. This increase will be in effect for six months.

CNG Buses for Public Transportation: In a bid to alleviate public transportation challenges resulting from the removal of the Petroleum Motor Spirit (PMS) subsidy, the Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to fast-tracking the provision of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses.

Support for Micro and Small-Scale Enterprises: The government has pledged to allocate funds to support micro and small-scale enterprises, fostering economic growth and stability.

VAT Waiver on Diesel: For the next six months, Value Added Tax (VAT) on diesel will be waived, potentially reducing costs for businesses and consumers.

Household Relief Payments: Starting from October to December 2023, the Federal Government will initiate the payment of N75,000 to 15 million households, amounting to N25,000 per month for three months.

Resolutions: In the course of discussions, several resolutions were reached:

1. Resolution of Disputes: It was emphasized that the issues in dispute can be effectively resolved while workers are actively engaged in their duties and not during strikes.

2. Wage Review: Labor Unions advocated for a higher wage award, and the Federal Government committed to presenting these requests to President Bola Tinubu for further consideration.

3. Implementation Subcommittee: A sub-committee will be established to meticulously work out the details of implementing various government interventions aimed at mitigating the effects of fuel subsidy removal.

4. Addressing Transport Associations Dispute: The ongoing matter involving the Road Transport Employees Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) and the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Lagos State will be urgently addressed, with Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu pledging to resolve the issue.

5. Labor Strike Consideration: The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) will carefully evaluate the offers made by the Federal Government, with the possibility of suspending the planned strike pending further consultations on the aforementioned resolutions.

The meeting also had virtual participation from Governor Abdulrazak Abdulrahman of Kwara State, Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), and Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State.