This is coming after the Federal Government failed to meet the unions’ minimum wage demand.

In a statement addressed to the branch chairpersons and zonal coordinators of ASUU on Monday, the association’s President, Emmanuel Osodeke, directed lecturers in universities across the country to join the strike as an affiliate of the congress.

The statement read, “The NLC has declared an indefinite strike action beginning from Monday, 3rd June, 2024, as a result of the failure of Government to conclude the renegotiation of minimum wage for Nigerian workers and reversal of hike in electricity tariff.

Our branches are hereby enjoined to join in the strike action as an affiliate member of Congress.

“Consequently, branch chairpersons are to mobilise all members to participate in the strike action. Yours in the struggle.”

The National Executive Council meeting of the labour unions, held on November 13, 2023, in Abuja, resolved to embark on the strike.

The decision was due to the alleged failure of the Federal Government to address issues affecting workers, such as the minimum wage, insecurity, corruption, and poor governance.

Also, both unions had made some demands, which the government had allegedly failed to address following the recent crisis in Imo that resulted in the alleged brutalisation of the NLC President, Mr Joe Ajaero, and other members of the labour unions.

Meanwhile, the government on Nov. 13 warned both unions against embarking on their planned strike action, saying it would amount to contempt of court.

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Lateef Fagbemi, in a statement, said the government had obtained a restraining order from the National Industrial Court of Nigeria barring the unions from going ahead with the strike.

Meanwhile, the Secretary General, Nigeria Union of Railway Workers, Mr Segun Esan, told newsmen that the union was involved in the strike and no train was running as a result.

“In effect, therefore, all the workers of Nigerian Railway are duty-bound to join the nationwide strike action from zero-zero hour of Tuesday, 14th November, 2023 by staying back at home and away from their offices.

“All the offices, stations, workshops, and entire premises of the corporation remain locked and inaccessible from zero-zero hour of Tuesday, 14th November, 2023, till otherwise directed by the Congress,” Esan said.

Also, the President of the Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance, and Financial Institutions, Mr Oluwole Olusoji, said advice had been sent out to members on compliance.

He said that members had been advised to ensure the safeguard of lives and property from people who might be used to take undue advantage of the situation.

“We will continue to monitor the situation as it unfolds,” Olusoji said.

A Bipartite Meeting between the FGN and the two Labour Centres – Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC),

Having been convened at the Banquet Hall, State House, Abuja to discuss emerging labour issues arising from recent cost-reflective Electricity Tariff adjustments and deregulation of the downstream sector of the Petroleum Industry,

Recognizing the public outcry and protest over the recent Federal Government twin policies on Electricity Tariff Reform and full implementation of deregulation of the downstream sector of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry resulting in the planned nationwide industrial action by Organised Labour, Bearing in mind the spiral and negative impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the world economy,

Further bearing in mind that due to the impact of COVID-19 pandemic the world is undergoing a socio-economic transition which has affected price stability, the sustainability of enterprises, employment, and other socio-economic indices,

Acknowledging that the spiral and negative impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the global economy has given rise to the need for a new socio-economic order,
Recognising the need to sustain enterprises for retention and creation of jobs as well as sustainable growth and development,

Acknowledging the need for social concertation between the Federal Government and workers’ representatives, namely the two Labour Centres – The NLC and TUC.

To aid in the dialogue and communication, the Federal Government side made presentations to show the state of the economy and the drive behind the recent cost-reflective Electricity Tariff adjustments and deregulation of the downstream sector of the Petroleum Industry,

Bipartite meeting to address and resolve the issues in dispute between the FG and Labour Centres was held on September 15, 24, and 27, 2020,

After exhaustive deliberations on the issues raised by Labour Centres, the FGN stated that it has fashioned out palliatives that would ameliorate the sufferings that Nigerian workers may experience as a result of the cost-reflective Electricity Tariff adjustments and deregulation of the downstream sector of the Petroleum Industry. The palliatives will be in the areas of transport, power, housing, agriculture and humanitarian support.

After thorough debates and negotiations on various issues raised by all parties, the following resolutions were reached and mutually adopted:

ELECTRICITY TARIFF REFORMS

The parties agreed to set up a Technical Committee comprising Ministries, Departments, Agencies, NLC and TUC, which will work for a duration of two (2) weeks effective Monday 28th September 2020, to examine: the justifications for the new policy in view of the need for the validation of the basis for the new cost-reflective tariff as a result of the conflicting information from the fields which appeared different from the data presented to justify the new policy by NERC; metering deployment, challenges, the timeline for massive rollout.

The Technical Committee membership is as follows:

Mr Festus Keyamo, SAN – Hon. Minister of State Labour & Employment – Chairman

Mr Godwin Jedy-Agba – Hon. Minister of State Power – Member

Prof. James Momoh – Chairman National Electricity Regulatory Commission – Member

Engr. Ahmad Rufai Zakari – SA to Mr President on Infrastructure – Member/Secretary

Dr Onoho’Omhen Ebhohimhen – Member (NLC)

Comrade Joe Ajaero – Member (NLC)

Comrade Chris Okonkwo – Member (TUC)

1no. A representative of DISCOS – Member

The Terms of Reference (ToR) are as follows:

To examine the justification for the new policy on cost-reflective Electricity Tariff adjustments.

To look at the different Electricity Distribution Company (DISCOs) and their different electricity tariff vis-à-vis NERC order and mandate.

Examine and advise Government on the issues that have hindered the deployment of the six million meters.

To look into the NERC Act under review with a view to expanding its representation to include organized labour.

The Technical subcommittee is to submit its report within two (2) weeks. During the two weeks, the DISCOs shall suspend the application of the cost-reflective Electricity Tariff adjustments.

The meeting also resolved that the following issues of concern to Labour should be treated as “stand-alone” items:

The 40% stake of Government in the DISCO and the stake of workers to be reflected in the composition of the DISCO’s Boards.

An all-inclusive and independent review of the power sector operations as provided in the privatization MOU to be undertaken before the end of the year 2020, with Labour represented.

That going forward, the moribund National Labour Advisory Council (NLAC) be inaugurated before the end of the year 2020 to institutionalize the process of tripartism and socio dialogue on socio-economic and major labour matters to forestall the crisis

DOWNSTREAM SECTOR DEREGULATION

Consequent upon the critical review of the various challenges of the downstream sector of the Nigeria oil and gas industry vis a vis the incalculable losses associated with a subsidy regime the Country has been incurring in terms of, stifled growth in the downstream sector, diminished human capital development and massive financial leakages and flight. This is in addition to the dire financial circumstances of the Federation that precludes any ability to sustain any subsidy on PMS and making deregulation of PMS inevitable. Consequently, the Parties agreed to the following:

All parties agreed on the urgency for increasing the local refining capacity of the nation to reduce the overdependency on the importation of petroleum products to ensure energy security, reduce the cost of finished products, increase employment and business opportunities for Nigerians.

To address (1) above, NNPC to expedite the rehabilitation of the nation’s four refineries located in Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna and to achieve 50% completion for Port Harcourt by December 2021, while timelines and delivery for Warri and Kaduna will be established by the inclusive Steering Committee.

To ensure Commitment and transparency to the processes and timelines of the rehabilitation exercise, the management of NNPC has offered to integrate the national leadership of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association (PENGASSAN) into the Steering Committee already established by the Corporation.

A Validation team comprising the representatives of the NNPC, Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), NUPENG and PENGASSAN will be established to monitor the progress of the rehabilitation of the refineries and the pipelines/strategic depots network and advice the Steering Committee periodically.

Post rehabilitation, NNPC shall involve the PENGASSAN and NUPENG in the process of establishing the operational model of the Nation’s refineries.

The Federal Government will facilitate the delivery of licensed modular and regular refineries, the involvement of upstream companies in petroleum refining and establishing a framework for financing in the downstream sector.

NNPC to expedite work on the Build Operate and Transfer framework for the nation’s pipelines and strategic depots network for efficient transportation and distribution of Petroleum products to match the delivery timelines of the refineries as agreed.

The Federal Government and its agencies to ensure delivery of 1 million CNG/LPG AutoGas conversion kits, storage skids and dispensing units under the Nigeria Gas Expansion Programme by December 2021 to enable the delivery of cheaper transportation and power fuel. A Governance Structure that will include representatives of organized Labour shall be established for a timely delivery.

GENERAL INTERVENTION

To cushion the impacts of the downstream sector deregulation and tariffs adjustment in the power sector, the Federal Government will implement the following:

A specific amount to be unveiled by the FGN in two weeks’ time will be isolated from the Economic Sustainability Programme Intervention Fund and be accessed by Nigerian Workers with subsequent provision for 240,000 under the auspices of NLC and TUC for participation in agricultural ventures through the CBN and the Ministry of Agriculture. The timeline will be fixed at the next meeting.

Federal Government will facilitate the removal of tax on minimum wage as a way of cushioning the impacts of the policy on the lowest vulnerable

Federal Government will make available to organized labour 133 CNG/LPG driven mass transit buses immediately and provide to the major cities across the Country on a scale-up basis thereafter to all States and Local Governments before December 2021.

Housing: 10% be allocated to Nigerian workers under the ongoing Ministry of Housing and Finance initiative through the NLC and TUC.

Consequently, the NLC and TUC agreed to suspend the planned industrial action

ORGANISED LABOUR;
___________________ __________________
Ayuba Wabba, mni Quadri Olalaye
NLC PRESIDENT TUC PRESIDENT

_________________ __________________
Emmanuel Ugboaja Musa Lawal Ozigi, mni Secretary-General NLC Secretary-General TUC

_________________ __________________
Williams E. Akporeha Festus Osifo
NUPENG President PENGASSAN President

___________________ __________________
Martin Uzoegwu Chris N. Okonkwo
President NUEE President, SSAEAC

FOR GOVERNMENT:

__________________ _______________________
Timipre Sylva Festus Keyamo, SAN
Hon. Min. of State Petroleum Hon. Min. of State Labour & Employment

__________________ _____________________
Alh Lai Mohammed Godwin Jedy-Agba
Hon. Min. of Information & Culture Hon. Min. of State Power

_________________________
Sen. (Dr.) Chris Nwabueze Ngige, OON, MD.
Honourable Minister of Labour & Employment

_______________________________
Boss Mustapha
Secretary to the Government of the Federation

The union gave the ultimatum in a communiqué signed by the President, TUC, Quadri Olaleye and the Secretary-General, TUC, Musa Lawal issued at the end of its National Executive Council meeting in Lagos on Thursday.

It read in part, “The congress advises all state governments that have not complied with the implementation and immediate payment of the N30, 000 new national minimum wage to commence negotiations and implementation on or before 31st January 2020.

“Otherwise the state governments should be responsible for the consequences of their failure. State councils have been directed to commence mobilisation of their members immediately.”

Meanwhile, the Organised labour on Monday,  said it would meet to review the minimum wage negotiations between states and workers across Nigeria.

Ekiti, Cross River, Benue, Gombe, Osun, Sokoto, Oyo, Niger, Ogun, Enugu, Bayelsa, Rivers, Kwara, Taraba and Anambra states have reportedly not agreed on consequential adjustments of salaries.

While Lagos, Kaduna, Bauchi, Kastina and Borno states had agreed to pay the new minimum wage, other states started negotiations few days to the end of the December 31, 2019 deadline.

Olaleye, while commenting on the current status of the minimum wage, noted that six states had signed to commence the implementation, adding that 15 states were negotiating and some would soon conclude negotiations.

He noted that if the states failed to pay the minimum wage, they were disobeying a directive from the President Muhammadu Buhari.

Reminded that labour had earlier given the states a December 31 deadline to comply with the minimum wage payment, Olaleye argued that the December 31 ultimatum did not emanate from the TUC.

The Union accused the federal government of betrayal of trust over implementation of the new national minimum wage.

In a statement by the President, Comrade Quadri Olaleye and Secretary General, Comrade (Barr.) Musa-Lawal Ozigi, the Congress said “we have read with concern the circular released by Chief R.O Egbule, Executive Chairman of the National Minimum Wage Committee set up by the Federal Government to work out the consequential adjustment arising from the wage increase. Let it be known that this circular is unacceptable to us because it contradicts the raison d’etre for setting the committee. We consider this as a smart move on the part of government to discourage labour action. Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, is not fooled. The Congress views this latest move as a betrayal of the trust reposed on the Federal Government. We wonder why anything that has labour undertone becomes the issue of rejection by government. By this circular, the government is testing the patience of the workers; and we assure them that they either go to the negotiating table to complete the assignment or risk the wrath of the workers. It will be recalled that recently the newly inaugurated green and red chambers of the National Assembly were showered with billions of naira at a time government is playing games with the minimum wage. The organised labour should not be blamed for any consequential action arising from non implementation of the minimum wage. TO BE FORE- WARNED IS TO BE- ARMED.”