The Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment on Tuesday said that President Bola Tinubu would unveil the palliative package for workers in the presidential speech to commemorate Nigeria’s Independence Day broadcast on Sunday, 1st October.
This is part of the measures to prevent the nationwide strike action, which organised labour announced would commence two days after – 3rd October.
The Organised Private Sector (OPS) however warned that the economy cannot afford a nationwide strike, and called on the Federal Government and the labour unions to work hand-in-hand to avert the looming disruption of socio-economic activities in the country.
The ministry’s spokesman, Mr. Olajide Oshundun told The PUNCH on Tuesday that the meeting, scheduled for Tuesday, would centre on the pronouncements that would be made by the President on Sunday.
He said: “We will avert the strike. We got the news of their intention to go on strike. They need to be rest assured that there will be a pronouncement in the 1st October speech of Mr. President for Nigerian workers.
“The ministry is working assiduously to meet with the second aspect of the demand which focuses on the wage award. We have already secured the release of the NURTW (National Union of Road Transport Workers) factional chairman (Comrade Tajudeen Baruwa)”.
Baruwa and 21 others, including three national officers of the union, were detained by the police for alleged criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide, public disturbance, and conduct likely to cause breach of peace.
“So we hope to invite them on Tuesday following the pronouncement of the President to see reasons for them to call off the strike”, Oshundun further said.
On Tuesday, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) declared an indefinite strike with effect from next Tuesday to protest the alleged failure of the Federal Government to provide post-subsidy palliatives for workers.
Oshundun noted that the second major demand was on the wage award for workers which the labour groups said would help in mitigating the suffering occasioned by the removal of the petrol subsidy.
Justifying the decision to proceed on strike at the virtual meeting of the National Executive Committee of the NLC held on Tuesday afternoon, NLC National President, Comrade Joe Ajaero said the Federal Government had failed to reverse its anti-poor policies characterised by the removal of fuel subsidy earlier this year.
The declaration of the industrial action did not however go down well with the OPS, which has warned the Federal Government and labour of its wider implication on the economy.
It observed that the strike would truncate business activities and worsen the economic hardship Nigerians are facing.
The OPS comprises the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture, the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association, the Nigerian Association of Small and Medium Enterprises and the Nigerian Association of Small Scale Industrialists.
Having keenly watched the back-and-forth consultations between the government and the unions, the OPS noted that it is evident that the series of consultations had not yielded positive results, a development which sets the stage for the imminent industrial action.
The statement read: “We are worried that adequate consideration is not given to the dire situation of the economy and the devastating/disruptive impact that a nationwide strike will have on the country at this time.
“The government and labour need to understand that our economy is being de-marketed and the livelihood of the average Nigerian is being diminished by this incessant bickering.
‘’One is beginning to wonder if the wellbeing of more than 200 million Nigerians is being factored into their negotiations”.
It also implored the government to endeavour to re-engage the leadership of the unions and find an amicable ground to avert any disruption in business activities that will attend the nationwide strike.
The OPS stated: “Government should demonstrate good faith in keeping to its promises during the negotiations with labour and abstain from making promises they cannot or do not intend to keep.
“On the other hand, labour should do a realistic assessment of its demands within the context of prevailing economic realities and possibilities, while going the extra mile to indicate how its demands could be met.’’
Source: The PUNCH
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18 October 2023 at 4:27 pm
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