Breaking: Labour suspends planned strike for two weeks

The planned strike by the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress (TUC) which was meant to begin on Monday, 28th September, 2020 has been suspended.

The suspension was as a result of deals reached by the Federal government and the Organised Labour at a meeting which started at 8.30pm on Sunday and ended at 2:50am this morning.

Part of the issues raised by the Labour was the suspension of electricity tariff which has now been adjusted for two weeks.

In a five page communique which was read by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, at the end of the meeting, said the application of electricity cost tariff would be adjusted for two weeks.

The NLC President, Ayuba Wabba; and his Trade Union Congress counterpart, Quadri Olaleye, amongst others signed on behalf of Organised Labour while the Minister of Labour, Chris Ngige; Minister of State Petroleum, Timipre Silva; Minister of State Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo (SAN); Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed; and the Secretary to Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha and others, signed on behalf of the government.

Speaking on the development, President of Trade Union Congress, Quadri Olaleye said the two Union have signed documents suspending the planned strike for two weeks.

He said, “Definitely correct. We just left a press conference. We signed a document to suspend the action for two weeks for the government to implement those things that we agreed in the agreement. So, we are suspending for two weeks.

Olaleye revealed that the parties would set up a technical Committee which comprises of Ministries, Departments, Agencies, NLC and TUC based on their agreement.

“We don’t need a notice again to re-convene if there is a need to do that.”

He said the suspension would be for two weeks with effect from September 28, 2020 to examine the justifications for the new policy.

He added: “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, timeline for massive rollout.”

The members of the committee include the Minister of State Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo (SAN) as Chairman; Minister of State Power, Godwin Jedy-Agba; Chairman, National Electricity Regulatory Commission, James Momoh; Special Assistant to the President on Infrastructure, Ahmad Zakari as the Secretary.

Other members are Onoho’Omhen Ebhohimhen, Joe Ajaero (NLC), Chris Okonkwo (TUC) and a representative of electricity distribution companies.

The committee’s terms of reference are to examine the justification for the new policy on cost-reflective electricity tariff adjustments; to look at the different 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 6 million meters, among others.

“During the two weeks, the DISCOs shall suspend the application of the cost-reflective electricity tariff adjustments,” the communique noted.