FG approves 30-day implementation agreement with labour unions

The Federal l Government has agreed on a 30-day implementation schedule for the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the FG and labour unions.

Minister of Labour and Employment Simon Lalong, announced this to reporters on Monday in Abuja after the council meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu.

It would be recalled that due to the ongoing hardship brought on by the removal of the fuel subsidy, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) announced in September that they will begin an indefinite strike on October 3.

The nationwide strike that was set to begin on October 3 was, however, halted on October 2 by the two labour unions and a coalition of other unions leaders.

In an agreement signed by union representatives and FG representatives, the labour unions declared their decision to call off their strike.

Speaking on the agreement, the minister said it contains 15 items, noting that part of the details would be filed in court as part to seal both part commitments.

He said, “We presented a memo from the Federal Ministry for Labour and Employment, precisely on the arrangement of the agreements between government and Labour. You are already aware of all about 15 or 14 items as part of the agreements.

“But we went beyond mere agreements to tell them that something different this time is happening, because one part of the agreement was to file it in a court of law, which we have set the process already and the other one was the presidential approval. There cannot be any presidential approval more than the federal executive council.

“So presented them to the Federal Executive Council, we analysed each and every aspect of the agreement and to show the genuineness and also provide for harmonious and good industrial relationship. And that was why it was presented and it was approved for implementation.

“Initially, Yes, it was agreed that within 30 days, there must be evidence of implementation. I think that was the basis of presenting to the Federal Executive Council. And the federal executive council also approved that within these 30 days, we’ll go on implementing the agreement between the Labour government.

While fielding questions on the sixth item which was about the government interference of National Union of Road Transport Workers, Mr Lalong said meetings with the road transport workers and RTEAN have not reached a conclusive agreement.

He said, “Well, the sixth item was about interference, specifically with issues that were about Road Transport Workers and RTEAN. Immediately the next day, we embark on meetings between the two organizations. As of today, they have already reached out.

“And we have concluded that of RTEAN and today they’re making a report to the ministry about the agreement. Because they went into agreement too and we’re also going to get back to their parent association. And then the next one was NURTW.

“Last week we were with them. Of course, if some of you were there, you knew why we postponed. I reminded them that we have to because we’re keeping to the dates of the agreement. But they said no, we cannot strictly keep to the date because it’s very important to them that we realize the end. So we shifted the meeting to tomorrow.

“And today we’re also going to get a report and by tomorrow, we’ll fix a meeting. The reason why we presented all these items to the Federal Executive Council is for them to note and approve that after these things, we will not want to tolerate interference into union activities, but those that are pending within the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.

“So many of them are there, our role is to dispense with these conflicts. And we’re going to continue to do what these two items that I mentioned, were really particular things they hammered on when we’re doing the agreement. But by God’s grace in the next few days. Those ones are going to be over.”