The strike, which commenced on Wednesday and was very effective across the country, was suspended after an emergency meeting of the National Executive Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Central Working Committee of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) of Nigeria, held at the Labour House.
The NLC and TUC had earlier held their meetings separately in different locations to deliberate on the outcome of their meeting with President Jonathan, and consider his plea and the undertaking given to them on Tuesday night.
Addressing a press conference after their joint meeting, acting president of NLC and chairman of the Strike Committee, Comrade Promise Adewusi, said President Jonathan had given an undertaking and gave his word that the National Minimum Wage Bill would be sent to the National Assembly as soon as the meeting of the National Council of State came to an end on November 25.
Besides, Comrade Adewusi stated that the president also assured them that the bill would be given an accelerated hearing, hence “the nationwide strike is suspended for three weeks.”
A communiqué issued at the end of the meeting said the organised labour resolved to suspend the three-day warning strike after due consideration and given the desired attention the issue had drawn from various organs of government.
Specifically, the communiqué said the meeting noted the role of the National Assembly in giving assurance that the matter would be given accelerated passage when brought before them.
The communiqué was signed by Comrade Adewusi, the President General of the TUC, Comrade Peter Esele, the General Secretary of NLC, Comrade John Odah and the General Secretary of TUC, Comrade John Kolawole.
The communique read: “The National Executive Council (NEC) of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Central Working Committee (CWC) of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) met at an emergency session on November 10, 2010 in Abuja over the three-day warning strike called by the two trade union centres to push for the implementation of the New National Minimum wage.
“After due deliberation, the sessions arrived at the following resolutions: The sessions, after due consideration, resolved to suspend the three-day warning strike given the desired attention the issue has drawn from various organs of government. The sessions noted in particular the role of the National Assembly in giving assurance that the matter will be given accelerated passage when brought before them.
“The sessions noted that having lost precious time on the issue of a new national minimum wage, the presidency should immediately after the meeting of the National Council of State on the November 25, 2010 present a bill to the National Assembly which will fast track the process before the meeting of these very organs in the first week of December 2010.
“That the two labour centres will not accept any figure less than the negotiated figure N18, 000 in the report of the Tripartite Committee chaired by Justice Alfa Belgore. The two labour centres will reconvene again in the first week of December to take further action should government fail to submit the bill to the National Assembly for accelerated passage.
“We commend those state governments which have expressed willingness to pay the negotiated salary immediately it is passed into law.”
On the attack on union leaders in Benin, the communiqué read: “We condemn in very strong terms the unprovoked shooting of the Edo State chairman of NUATE, Comrade Ehichioya Godwin, who was shot by a policeman earlier today in Benin. We call on the Inspector-General of Police, Alhaji Ringim, to order the immediate arrest, dismissal and prosecution of the policeman who carried out this dastardly and uncivilised act.
“The NLC and TUC resolved that for violating the strike and for attempting to facilitate the escape of the policeman that shot Comrade Godwin, Nigerian workers and their allies should stop patronising Arik Airlines.
The two labour centres advise all their affiliate unions to take their cue from the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) which have already ordered the stoppage of supply of aviation fuel to Arik Airlines immediately.
“The two labour centres acknowledge and commend the solidarity and support demonstrated by our civil society partners, the media and other prominent Nigerians too numerous to mention. We promise that we will not renege in our resolve and commitment to the full implementation of the new minimum wage as contained in the Justice Alfa Belgore Committee Report.”
Strong indication emerged that the strike would be suspended before it was even started late on Tuesday night after the closed door meeting with President Jonathan over the delay in the implementation of the N18,000 national minimum wage.
NLC General Secretary, John Odah, while speaking with the Nigerian Tribune, accused some state governments of planning to stall the implementation of the new wage despite their involvement in the negotiation process.
He said: “They (governors) were part of the negotiations for the minimum wage. The average of what the states submitted came back to N22, 500. One of the states went as high as N46,000 which was very close to the N52, 200 that we submitted in the course of the negotiations.
“So in the process of the tripartite negotiations, we made sure we carried everybody along, both government and private sectors, and we are happy that the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA), through a paid advert, stated that they participated and expect the government to do everything lawful by ensuring that the minimum wage is implemented.”
On the outcome of the meeting held with President Jonathan, Odah said: “He (Jonathan) assured the leadership of labour that he is committed to ensuring that we get the new minimum wage in a matter of weeks. He has fixed another meeting of the Council of State out of which two weeks has gone to take a final decision on the new minimum wage.”
President Jonathan had reportedly assured them during the meeting that the Council of State would, on November 25, meet to deliberate on the new national minimum wage with a view to taking a position.
Meanwhile the Federal Government has praised the NLC and the TUC for hearkening to the plea to call off the warning strike over the N18,000 minimum wage.
The Minister of Labour, Chukwuemeka Nwogu, assured the labour of the government's continued cooperation in line with International Labour Organisation (ILO) standards and the Nigerian Constitution.
The minister expressed delight at the the action and pledged the Federal Government's readiness for continuous dialogue with labour.
He said the decision to call off the strike was a demonstration of the patriotic spirit of the labour leaders and all stakeholders.
The NLC had, on Wednesday, given effect to its threat of a three-day warning strike, which was totally complied with in all the states of the federation except Jigawa.
Roads in Abuja, the nation’s capital, were devoid of usual hustle and bustle on Wednesday, as the strike called by the leadership of the NLC began.
In Calabar, Cross River State, the strike brought virtually everything to a standstill with some private institutions expressing solidarity with the labour union.
Our reporter who went round Calabar for on-the-spot assessment of the impact of the strike said government offices, both local and state, remained locked.
In Bauchi State, the strike action was effective, as all government offices were locked, with all categories of workers denied access into the offices; a development that almost caused a chaotic situation at the Abubakar Umar State secretariat.
In Dutse, the capital city, everything was normal and work went on smoothly.
Most public offices in Minna, the Niger State capital, were locked in compliance with the warning strike.
In Oyo State, the first day of the warning strike was effective, as all government activities were paralysed.
In Bayelsa State, the strike was partially observed as members of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools, and some bank workers ignored the strike.
Reports fron Nsukka, Udi, Agbani and other major towns in Enugu State also said that workers and teachers were indoors.
In Kaduna State, the strike embarked upon by labour was successful, as state and the Federal Government workers stayed away from their various places of work.
When the Nigerian Tribune visited the Federal Secretariat, near Kawo, the place was deserted while a few workers were seen at the main gate, discussing in groups about the strike.
The situation was the same at the state government secretariat on Independence Way, where the main entrance was shut.
Only men of the Nigerian Civil Defence Corps and Road Safety officials were seen around the area.
Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, was thrown into total blackout on Wednesday, as the NLC and other trade unions in the state joined in the warning strike to protest the non-implementation of a new minimum wage.
Source: http://tribune.com.ng/index.php/front-page-news/13420-labour-suspends-strike-for-3-weeks-as-one-day-strike-grounds-economy
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