The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has given its nod to a 30-day implementation plan for the memorandum of understanding (MoU) reached between the federal government and organized labor unions.
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong, disclosed this development following a council meeting chaired by President Bola Tinubu in Abuja. This significant step aims to address the concerns raised by labor unions and prevent the commencement of an indefinite strike, which was initially planned due to the removal of fuel subsidy.
In September, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) announced their intentions to stage a nationwide strike starting from October 3, citing the economic hardships brought about by the subsidy removal. However, the strike was suspended on October 2, just a day before it was set to begin, following the signing of an MoU between the labor unions and the federal government.
The MoU included a commitment to halt the strike for 30 days and emphasized the importance of social dialogue in future engagements between the government and labor unions. Furthermore, it stated that the agreement would be filed in a relevant court of competent jurisdiction as a consent judgment by the Federal Government within one week.
Minister Lalong informed the public that the MoU’s implementation was a major topic discussed during the FEC meeting, marking an important step towards addressing the concerns of labor unions and maintaining a peaceful working environment.
