The Nigeria Labour Congress has called off the planned nationwide strike set to begin on Tuesday in response to the recent 50 per cent increase in telecommunication tariffs by the Nigerian Communications Commission.
NLC President, Joe Ajaero, announced the suspension of the strike following an extensive meeting on Monday night with a federal government delegation led by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume.
He stated that labor and the federal government had agreed to form a 10-man committee, with an equal split between both parties, to review the entire tariff structure and model and provide realistic, inclusive recommendations.
He also mentioned that the committee is expected to submit its report in two weeks.
“That will determine the next line of action and the process of engagement.The symbolic action of submitting the letters tomorrow (Tuesday) will be put on hold until the outcome of such a committee. The outcome of such a committee is what will determine our next line of action in terms of protest, in terms of boycott, in terms of withdrawal of services, which are the three issues put on line.
“But we are going to use the subject of this meeting to put in our displeasure on the arbitrary tariff and the tax that is killing the workers now.The tax regime which is unbearable. So, those are actions that are still on course until they are addressed,” he stated.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, speaking on behalf of the federal government, stated that the meeting, convened at the request of the SGF, aimed to maintain industrial harmony and protect the interests of Nigerians.
He explained that the purpose of the meeting was to review the study conducted by the NCC, which resulted in the 50 percent increase in telecommunications tariffs.
The minister added that both parties agreed to establish a 10-man committee, comprising representatives from the federal government and the NLC, to assess the NCC’s study and submit its report within two weeks.
“So, the summary of it is that Labour and the Nigerian Labour Congress specifically and the delegation of the federal government have set up a committee of five each. We are going to meet here continuously for the next two weeks. And at the end of the second week, we will now come up with a recommendation that we will give to the government and the organised Labour for final consideration.
“The crux of the matter is that there is already a study that was conducted by the NCC that led them to arrive at this 50 per cent increase. Now, we are discussing this with labour. Labour has agreed that they will look at that study.
“We are going to meet here continuously for the next two weeks. Now, I think what has happened here has effectively taken out that position. Both of us have agreed. In fact, it is an attempt to put a stop to that that led us to make this meeting to happen today. And so this meeting has happened.
“Both the organised Labour, the NLC in particular, the government people have sat down here and agreed on this position. So, there won’t be any protest tomorrow by the Nigerian Labour Congress. There will be some form of report that will come up in about two weeks from now to consider the study and other considerations by both parties,” Idris said.
The meeting was attended by several key officials, including the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijanni; Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida; Minister of Labour and Employment, Alhaji Mohammed Dingyadi; Minister of Budget and National Planning, Atiku Bagudu; and National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, among others.