FG, labour meet today on post-subsidy talks

The Federal Government and the leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) will meet on Monday, September 18, 2023, to resolve issues over the looming industrial action. The meeting was scheduled at the instance of the Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong, following the NLC's threat to embark on an indefinite strike over the removal of fuel subsidy. The NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) had suspended their planned strike in June after the federal government agreed to meet their demands, including the payment of a N50,000 monthly transportation subsidy to all Nigerian workers, the commencement of the rehabilitation of all federal roads, and the provision of adequate funding for the education and health sectors. However, the unions have accused the government of reneging on its promises, saying that the transportation subsidy has not been paid to workers, the rehabilitation of federal roads has not commenced, and the education and health sectors are still underfunded. The NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, had said that the union would resume its planned strike if the government fails to meet its demands by September 18. The federal government has said that it is committed to meeting the demands of the unions, but it has appealed to them to shelve their planned strike so that the two parties can continue to dialogue. It is expected that the meeting between the federal government and the NLC on Monday will be crucial in determining whether or not the union will proceed with its planned strike. If the government fails to meet the demands of the unions, it is likely that the NLC will embark on an indefinite strike, which will have a significant impact on the Nigerian economy.