FG workers to receive N35,000 wage award for six months

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Following consultations between the federal government and leadership of the labour unions at the Presidential Villa recently, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the payment of N35,000 as a provisional wage award for all treasury-paid federal government workers for a period of six months.

This is according to the nation’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, Malam Mohammed Idris who made the announcement in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

According to the Minister, the Federal Government while at the meeting with Labour Unions, had promised that it was committed to fast-tracking the provision of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses to ease public transportation which the FG says has been occasioned by the recent subsidy removal on PMS.

The Minister stated that the Federal Government is also committed to providing funds for micro and small-scale enterprises as well as waivers on VAT on diesel for the next six months adding that the Tinubu-led administration has decided to pay N75,000 to 15 million households at N25,000 per month, for a three-month period from October to December.

Highlights of the decision reached at the meeting according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) include:

“The Federal Government urged the Labour unions not to embark on strike action as the issues in dispute can only be resolved when workers are at work.

“Labour Unions made case for higher wage award.

“A sub-committee will be constituted to work out the details of implementation of all items regarding government interventions to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal.

“The lingering matter of Road Transport Employees Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) and National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Lagos State will be addressed urgently.

“NLC and TUC will consider the offers by the Federal Government with a view to suspending the planned strike to allow for further consultations on the implementation of the agreed resolutions.”

Meanwhile, Gov. Abdulrazak Abdulrahman of Kwara and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) and Gov. Dapo Abiodun of Ogun, participated virtually in the meeting, chaired by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila while the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong, the Minister of State, Labour, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, and the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Bagudu attended in person.

Also in attendance were the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Doris Uzoka-Anite, the Head of Service of the Federation, Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan and the National Security Adviser (NSA), Malam Nuhu Ribadu.

The labour delegation was led by NLC President, Joe Ajaero, Dr Tommy Okon, Deputy President, TUC, NLC General Secretary, Emma Ugboaja, and the TUC General Secretary, Nuhu Toro.

The above resolutions were taken in the midst of two significant events in the country; the commemoration of Nigeria’s 63rd Independence anniversary which availed a platform for individuals and groups to reaccess the performance of various sectors in the country and the ongoing saga between the NLC and the FG wherefore, the former threatens to embark on an aggressive nationwide strike action.