Organized labour has suspended the proposed strike action earlier scheduled to commence today over increase in prices of petrol and electricity tariff.

The suspension was contained in a communiqué jointly signed by labour leaders and the Federal Government representatives, and read by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, at the end of the meeting that lasted about seven hours.

According to the communique, the parties agreed to set up a Technical Committee comprising Ministries, Departments, Agencies, Nigeria Labour Congress – NLC and Trade Union Congress – TUC, which will work for two weeks, effective today, to examine the justifications for the new policy, metering deployment, challenges and timeline for massive roll out. Within the two weeks, DISCOs are ordered to suspend the application of the cost-reflective electricity tariff adjustments.

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On increase in petrol, the government made available some palliatives to the labour stating that it will implement a specific amount to be unveiled by the government in two weeks. It added that time will be isolated from the Economic Sustainability Programme Intervention Fund and be accessed by Nigerian Workers with subsequent provision for 240,000 under the auspices of NLC and TUC for participation in agricultural ventures through the CBN and the Ministry of Agriculture.

It further noted that the Federal Government will facilitate the removal of tax on minimum wage as a way of cushioning the impacts of the policy on the lowest vulnerable. The Federal Government also agreed to immediately make available to organized labour 133 CNG/LPG driven mass transit buses and provide to the major cities across the Country on a scale up basis, then thereafter to all state and local governments before December 2021.

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Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, has said the federal government may reopen the land borders soon.

Osinbajo stated this when he was responding to a question on the continued closure of the land borders especially at a time the African Continental Free Trade Agreement is being prepped for take-off.

Osinbajo, who spoke during a webinar, said the federal government was working with its neighbours on the terms it will adopt in the re-opening of the borders.

READ ALSO :Federal Government cautions applicants against paying fee for MSMEs intervention grant

Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari had in October 2019 ordered the closure of the borders to check the menace of smuggling goods and arms and ammunition into the country and protect local businesses. The closure was, however, greeted by mixed reactions from professional organizations, economists and individuals.

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The Federal Government says applicants will not pay any ‘facilitation fee’ to access its intervention grant for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises -MSMEs, and cautions unsuspecting applicants against fraudsters.

The Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Mariam Katagum, stated this at a news conference on the implementation process of the Survival Fund in Abuja.

Katagum, who is also the Chairperson, Programme Steering Committee, said the Project Delivering Office for the scheme was receiving feedbacks from Nigerians since its registration portal opened on September 21, for applicants.

READ ALSO:FG dismisses seven-day ultimatum given by Trade Union Congress

Katagum lauded MSMEs’ performances across the country and urged them to take full advantage of the scheme by applying for any category that suits their needs and also lauded the Federal Government for its efforts at supporting MSMEs to strive amidst the COVID-19 pandemic period.

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The Abuja Vacation Judge of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Justice Ibrahim Galadima has granted an order of interim injunction restraining the NLC and TUC of Nigeria from embarking on any strike or stoppage of work in whatsoever form on the 28th September 2020 or any other subsequent date pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.

The further restrained the Unions, their officers, affiliates, privies from disrupting or preventing workers or ordinary Nigerians from accessing their offices to carry out their legitimate duties on Monday or any other subsequent date.  Justice Galadima made the order sequel to an ex-parte application filed by Incorporated Trustees of Peace and Unity Ambassadors Association through their counsel, Sunusi Musa Esq.

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Meanwhile, in a swift response, the NLC and TUC have dismissed the ruling of the National Industrial Court restraining them from going on strike beginning from Monday.

The NLC and the TUC stated this after a meeting between the Federal Government and the workers ended in a deadlock yesterday evening. Reacting, NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, said he had not been served, adding that the group that filed the suit was not his employers.

Even though while speaking to journalists after the dialogue, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, said the parties had a fruitful discussion, and shifted till Monday to conclude discussions, TUC President, Quadri Olaleye said the mobilization of workers for the strike would not be halted, noting that the government failed to reverse or suspend the fuel price hike and electricity tariff adjustment.

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President Muhammadu Buhari will today depart Abuja for Bissau to attend ceremonies celebrating the National Day of the Republic of Guinea Bissau.

President Buhari is expected to join the Heads of State and Government of Senegal, Cote d’ Ivoire, Rwanda, Mauritania, Togo and Liberia to mark the 47th independence anniversary of Guinea Bissau.

READ ALSO: President Muhammadu Buhari meets with President of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo at Presidential Villa, Abuja

This was contained in a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Chief Femi Adesina in Abuja.

According to the statement, while in Bissau, President Buhari will also commission a road named in his honour by the host government.

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President Muhmmadu Buhari has held a closed-door meeting with President of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo, at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The Personal Assistant to the President on New Media, Bashir Ahmad, who disclosed this on his official twitter handle, did not however reveal the purpose of the meeting.

Meanwhile reports say the meeting might be in relation to the recent diplomatic row between Nigeria and Ghana.

READ ALSO:President Muhammadu Buhari congratulates Governor Godwin Obaseki on election victory

Recall that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo had recently attended an extraordinary session of the Economic Community of West African States-ECOWAS in Ghana, after which he addressed the Nigerian community in Ghana on the row. Similarly, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila also travelled to Accra recently to hold talks with his Ghanaian counterpart on the crisis.

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Senate President, Ahmad Lawan says for Nigeria to surmount security challenges confronting it, traditional rulers in the country should be given specific roles to be enshrined in the Constitution.

Lawan who stated this in a welcome address delivered when a visiting delegation from the Argungu Emirate paid a visit to his office at the National Assembly, Abuja, stressed that giving roles to traditional rulers would allow them to support the efforts of government and security agencies in addressing the challenges of insecurity.

READ ALSO: Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors threaten nationwide strike from Monday, September 7

Lawan who used the occasion to sympathize with the government and people of Kebbi State over the recent flooding appealed to the Federal Government to provide interventions that would alleviate the plight of residents of communities affected across parts of the country.

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Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, has dismissed the seven-day ultimatum given the federal government by the Trade Union Congress-TUC to reverse the new fuel price or face industrial action as invalid.

Answering questions from State House correspondents in Abuja, Ngige described the ultimatum as misplaced because it was wrongly directed.

According to him, the ultimatum was addressed to President Muhammadu Buhari, in contravention of labour laws which authorizes labour bodies to address such an ultimatum to the labour minister.

READ ALSO:Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors threaten nationwide strike from Monday, September 7

Ngige however disclosed that the Federal Executive Council has approved a new national policy on occupational safety and health, tagged National Policy on Occupational Safety 2020, adding that the policy was a derivative of the provisions of both the 1999 Nigerian Constitution as well as the International Labour Organization’s convention.

Ngige who noted that the last time the policy was reviewed was 14 years ago, added that the new 2020 policy would be reviewed every three years, because the world had gone digital.

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