The Federal Government and the labour unions have risen from their meeting with an agreement that all categories of workers should benefit from the wage increment announced by President Bola Tinubu on Sunday.
After the four-hour closed-door meeting, Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, disclosed that the President agreed to the new formula after an observation by the labour unions.
The President had earlier announced a wage increment of N25,000 for lower cadre workers in the country.
“Based on our talks with labour, business and other stakeholders, we are introducing a provisional wage increment to enhance the federal minimum wage without causing undue inflation.
“For the next six months, the average low-grade worker shall receive an additional N35,000 per month.
Gbajabiamila said that other consensus were agreed on and would be made available after the unions meet with their various organs on Monday.
The Chief of Staff to President said the government and unions were all working for the good of the country and its citizens.
“We hope labour will convene their meeting tomorrow to present these agreements to their members and we pray that they will call off the strike by Tuesday for the benefit of the workers and the country,” Gbajabiamila said.
In his remarks, the Nigeria Labour Congress President, Joe Ajaero said the Union had got a “promissory note” from the government to take back to its members.
According to him, the final decision will be communicated to Union organs after that.
“We have looked at all the promissory notes from the government and looked at how to translate it (them) to reality and to be workable.
“And we are going to take it to our organs and review.
“We are hopeful that our organs will take a look at them and give a fresh mandate on what to do next,” Ajaero said.
The NLC and TUC had called on members to begin an indefinite strike on Tuesday over non implementation of palliatives to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal on workers by the government.
In response to the demands of NLC and TUC, President Bola Tinubu on Sunday announced a wage increment for workers in the country.
He also announced the deployment of Compressed Natural Gas buses to ease the cost of transportation.
In his broadcast to commemorate Nigeria’s 63rd Independence Anniversary, President Tinubu said that the government was resolved to relieve the hardship faced by Nigerians.
According to him, various reforms had been put in place by all tiers of government to mitigate the hardship faced by citizens.
“There is no joy in seeing the people of this nation shoulder burdens that should have been shed years ago.
“I wish today’s difficulties did not exist; but we must endure if we are to reach the good side of our future.
“We have embarked on several public sector reforms to stabilise the economy, direct fiscal and monetary policy to fight inflation, encourage production, ensure the security of lives and property and lend more support to the poor and the vulnerable.
“To ensure better grassroots development, we set up an Infrastructure Support Fund for States to invest in critical areas.
“States have already received funds to provide relief packages against the impact of rising food and other prices,” President Tinubu said.
The meeting was attended, from the government side, by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila and the Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong.
Also at the meeting was the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkiruka Onyejeocha.
Others are Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris as well the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Atiku Bagudu.
The Minister of Finance, Wale Edun and his Trade, Investment and Industry counterpart, Doris Uzoka-Anite, also attended the meeting.