The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU shelves proposed strike action after the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) reached an agreement with the Federal Government.
The Federal Government’s meeting with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) on October 1, 2023, brought about significant resolutions, leading to the shelving of a proposed strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
The discussion primarily revolved around addressing the disputes arising from the removal of the subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), and the following key points were noted:
- Provisional Wage Increment: The Federal Government announced a provisional wage increment of N25,000 for all treasury-paid federal government workers for a duration of six months.
- Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Buses: The government pledged its commitment to expedite the provision of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses to alleviate public transportation challenges stemming from the removal of PMS subsidy.
- Support for Micro and Small-Scale Enterprises: Funds will be made available by the Federal Government to support micro and small-scale enterprises.
- Waiver on VAT for Diesel: VAT (Value Added Tax) on diesel will be waived for the next six months.
- Financial Assistance to Households: Starting from October through December 2023, the Federal Government will commence the payment of N75,000 to 15 million households, at a rate of N25,000 per month for three months.
Resolutions Reached:
- Work Over Strike: It was unanimously agreed that the disputes at hand can only be effectively resolved when workers are actively engaged in their respective roles and not when on strike.
- Higher Wage Consideration: The Labour Unions advocated for a higher wage increment, and the Federal Government Team assured that they would present these demands to President Bola Tinubu for further consideration.
- Formation of Sub-committee: A sub-committee will be formed to meticulously work out the implementation details of all items, specifically concerning government interventions to cushion the impact of the fuel subsidy removal.
- Lingering Transport Union Matter: The long-standing issue involving the Road Transport Employees Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) and the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Lagos State was recognized as needing urgent attention. Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who participated virtually, pledged to resolve this matter.
The meeting, chaired by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, witnessed the participation of Governor Abdulrazak Abdulrahman of Kwara State and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), as well as Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State.
Additionally, key government officials and prominent figures from Labour Unions were in attendance.
Read Also: ASUU Announces Indefinite Strike
In a related development, ASUU, under the umbrella of NLC, resolved to suspend their proposed strike action, aligning with the agreement reached by the NLC and the Federal Government.
1) They did not agree a timeline for all these promised to be implemented.
2) All these solutions are just surface and not tackling the root cause problems for the long term.
3) Why are they not demanding that refineries should work, govt schools should become efficient again, power should become more relaible. These are the permanent solution to all these problems.
Nigeria will never seek for what will last, only what they will eat at the moment
They did, that’s why the pursed the strike for 30days, so federal government has 30days to make all this moves if not the strike will commence
25,000 Naira salary increments for just six months, Nigeria is a scam.
How will these help the excruciating pain nigerians are going through?
After 2 months, we will realize this was all rubbish, a waste of time and resources that should have been channeled at lasting solutions.
There should be timeline for any step if there is sincerity of purpose
There should be strike abeg
The question of timeframe should be put to the leaderships of the NLC and TUC. They need to clarify that.
As for the refineries, proper privatization would work better than government handling refineries that will be nobody’s properties. Governmental insincerity is the only thing that can work against proper privatization. Prof Oyeniran Abioje.
The way and manner the NLC and other key unions are engaging in discussion with the federal govt is not encouraging. Why because they new that we Nigerians are peaceful mindset of people.
Otherwise what is the agreement they agree open with the federal govt is it the problem of six months that Nigerians are crying for or what and how
I don’t know why all interpret Nlc strike to Asuu
It involves every sector of business connected to the government make una try Dey post clear statement Asuu didn’t say they were going on strike Nlc said so
In a political system as Nigeria’s, privatization or the absence of it does not make any difference sir. In fact, because of the “individual” in charge, the cost of these amenities will be heightened. It will just be the government calling the shots indirectly. So I don’t think that’s the best solution sir. The absolute truth, sir, is that, the political actors in this race should stop dancing to the winds and caprices of peripheral comprador bourgeoisies. That was what got us here in the first place. They should take greed off the table
What was the reason for fuel subsidy?
( government invested to do the masses better)
Now what is the need for subsidy removal when the refineries to replace subsidy are not on ground?
To me the defined subsidy was OK to this suffering.