Following the intervention of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Engr. Babashir David Lawal, Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige and all parties concerned, the Nigeria Labour Congress and its Trade Union Counterpart has agreed to stay all industrial actions, to provide a conducive industrial relations atmosphere for the effective and efficient implementation of the federal government palliative measures which is targeted at bringing succour to the masses, including the working class and all unemployed persons over the recent increase in the Pump Price of Petroleum The decision to suspend all industrial action was contained in a communiqué signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Engr. Babachir David Lawal, the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige, the President of the Trade Union Congress, Com. Bobboi Bala Kaigama and Comrade Joe Ajaero led faction of the Nigeria Labour Congress.
The communiqué read in part “following due deliberation on the issue, the Government resolved with the Federation of Trade Unions as follows
I. That the Government will expedite action on the composition of the minimum wage review committee and the committee is expected to complete its assignment and submit its report within six months of its constitution. Accordingly a technical committee will be set to develop frame work for the working of the tripartite committee on minimum wage review.
II. This technical committee will be constituted to also consider suggestion and contributions from relevant parties on the component of the half trillion naira (N500 Billion) provided in the 2016 annual budget as palliatives’ measures to cushion the negative fall-out of the deregulation of the down-stream sector of the oil and gas industry.
III. That the technical committee will complete its assignment and revert to the committee of the whole within two weeks
IV. That the PPPRA Board will be statutorily reconstituted within two weeks to ensure effective and proper pricing and distribution the petroleum which is their main function.
In consideration of the foregone a 15 man technical committee is constituted with the following membership
A. Federation of Trade Union side 7 members
TUC and Ayuba led NLC 5 members
Ajaero led NLC 2 members
B. Composition of the Federal Government representation is as follows
I. Hon. Min. of Labour and Employment Chairman
II. Hon. Min. of State for Petroleum Resources Member
III. Hon. Min. of Budget and Planning Member
IV. Hon. Min. of Finance Member
V. Hon. Min. of Solid Minerals Member
VI. Chairman National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission Member
VII. Office of the head of the Civil service of the Federation Member
VIII. Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation Member and Secretariat
Based on the above efforts by all concerned parties, all industrial actions by members of the NLC and TUC shall be stayed in order to provide a conducive industrial relations atmosphere for the effective and efficient implementation of the Federal Government’spolicies to realise the targeted goals and objectives.
Meanwhile the affected trade unions have been requested to submit all their nominees before close of work, tomorrow Friday 20th of May, 2016 to enable their inauguration on Monday 23rd May, 2016
Samuel Olowookere
Deputy Director (Press)
