The details of the agreement between the Labour union and the Federal Government has emerged after the suspension of the proposed nationwide strike.
AFNews had reported earlier that the Federal Government and the Labour Unions reached an agreement at exactly 2:53 am on Monday, September 28, a tweet on the micro-blogging site, Twitter by the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo (SAN) revealed.
According to the Minister, the agreement reached between the Federal Government and the Labour Unions means that deregulation will stay with the Federal Government rolling out palliatives for labour. The details of these palliatives, the minister said would be made known in the next two weeks.
Keyamo also revealed the electricity tariffs has been suspended by government for 2 weeks with a joint Committee headed him (Keyamo) to examine the justification for the new policy.
The Minister of State for Labour and Employment added that the Labour unions have suspended the proposed strike action which was scheduled to start from today (Monday) according to an earlier tweet by the NLC.
Keyamo tweeted: “FG & LABOUR reach agreement at 2:53 am. Deregulation to stay as Govt rolls out palliatives for labour (details in 2 weeks); Electricity tariffs suspended by Govt for 2 weeks with a joint committee headed by @fkeyamo to examine the justification for the new policy. Strike suspended.”
In a communique issued at the end of the meeting, the federal government agreed to some palliatives for workers to ameliorate the effect of the increase in the pump price of petrol and electricity tariff hike in the country.
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, who addressed the media after the meeting, said the palliatives will be in the areas of transport, power, housing, agriculture and humanitarian support.
Ngige said the parties agreed to set up a Technical Committee comprising Ministries, Departments, Agencies, NLC and TUC, which will work for a duration of two weeks effective Monday 28th September 2020, adding that the committee will examine the justification for the new policy on cost-reflective Electricity Tariff adjustments; to look at the different Electricity Distribution Company (DISCOs) and their different electricity tariff vis-à-vis NERC order and mandate and examine and advise the government on the issues that have hindered the deployment of the six million meters.
”Within the two weeks the DICOS shall suspend the increase in electricity tariff,” he said.