Organised Labour last night put off its planned strike over the removal of petrol subsidy by the Federal Government.
The decision was announced after yesterday’s marathon meeting between a government team and leaders of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
The NLC served a strike notice due to commence tomorrow, the day after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in his inauguration address declared that “fuel subsidy is gone”.
The presidential announcement led to a knee-jerk reaction from petrol marketers, who immediately shut down filling stations and hiked product prices.
Prices of other commodities went up astronomically.
Yesterday’s meeting was a follow-up to two earlier meetings on May 31 and June 4.
The communiqué issued last night said: “Following the engagements between the Federal Government and TUC/NLC, with the intervention of the Speaker, House of Representatives to resolve the disputes that arose from the withdrawal of subsidy on PMS, the following resolutions were reached:
“The Federal Government, the TUC and the NLC to establish a joint committee to review the proposal for any wage increase or award and establish a framework and timeline for implementation.
“The Federal Government, the TUC and the NLC to review the World Bank Financed Cash transfer scheme and propose the inclusion of low-income earners in the programme.
“The Federal Government, the TUC and the NLC to revive the CNG (compressed natural gas) conversion program earlier agreed with Labor centres in 2021 and work out detailed implementation and timing.
“The Labour centres and the Federal Government to review issues hindering effective delivery in the education sector and propose solutions for implementation.
“The Labour centres and the Federal Government to review and establish the framework for completion of the rehabilitation of the nation’s refineries.
“The Federal Government to provide a framework for the maintenance of roads and expansion of rail networks across the country.
“All other demands submitted by the TUC to the Federal Government will be assessed by the joint committee.”
It was decided that the proposed strike will be called off.
The resolution added: “Consequently, the parties agreed follows: the NLC to suspend the notice of strike forthwith to enable further consultations.
“The TUC and the NLC to continue the ongoing engagements with the Federal Government and secure closure on the resolutions above.
“The Labour Centers and the Federal Government to meet on June 19, 2023, to agree on an implementation framework.”
The resolution was signed by TUC President Festus Osifo; NLC President Joseph Ajaero; TUC Secretary General Nuhu Torò and NLC General Secretary Emmanuel Ugboaja.
Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Kachollom S. Daju, and Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila signed for the Federal Government.
Others in the government’s team at the meeting were former Edo State Governor and Senator-elect Adams Oshiomhole; the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari; former Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Dele Alake; and House of Representatives member James Faleke.
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele; former Minister of State for Labour and Employment Festus Keyamo (SAN); Executive Secretary of the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC) Zacch Adedeji; and Executive Vice President, Downstream of the NNPCL Yemi Adetunji were also present, among others.
The resolution came hours after the National Industrial Court in Abuja restrained Labour from proceeding with the strike.
Justice O. Y. Anuwe issued the order while ruling on an ex-parte motion by the Federal Government through the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and moved by Director, Civil Litigation, Federal Ministry of Justice Mrs. Maimuna Lami Shiru.
The order will remain in force pending the hearing and determination of a motion on notice dated June 5.
The judge said her action was informed by the argument by the Federal Government’s lawyer that the strike if allowed, will cause incalculable damage to the nation.
She said: “Having therefore considered the totality of this application, I make the following orders:
“The defendants/respondents are hereby restrained from embarking on the planned industrial action/or strike of any nature, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice dated 5th June 2023.
“It is ordered that the defendant/ respondents be immediately served with the originating processes in this suit, the motion on notice and the order of this court hereby made.
“The motion on notice is hereby fixed for hearing on 19th June 2023. Hearing notices to that effect shall be served on the defendants/respondents along with the other processes.”
The suit marked: NCIN/ABJ/158/2023 has the NLC and TUC as defendants, while the Federal Government and the AGF are listed as the claimants.
Justice Anuwe, in the ruling, agreed that the proposed strike action is capable of disrupting economic activities, the health and the educational sectors.
She said by Section 7(b) of the National Industrial Court (NIC) Act 2006, her court has exclusive jurisdiction in matters relating to the grant of any order to restrain any person or body from taking part in any strike, lockout or any industrial action or any conduct in contemplation or in furtherance of a strike, lockout or any industrial action.
The judge added that sections 16 and 19(a) of the NIC Act 2006 also empower this court to make orders or grant urgent interim reliefs.
She added: “The urgency enumerated in the affidavit of urgency and counsel’s submission reveals a scenario that may gravely affect the larger society and indeed the well-being of the nation at large.
“Counsel has pointed out that students of secondary schools nationwide, especially those writing WAEC exams will be affected; the tertiary institutions who have only just resumed after a long ASUU strike will also be affected, not leaving the health sector, amongst other sectors; and above all, the economy of the nation.
“In my view, this is a situation of extreme urgency that will require the intervention of this court.”
Petrol sales drop as ex-depot price hits N479.50 per litre
Also yesterday, the NNPCL released a new ex-depot price of N479.50 per litre of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) petrol to the marketers.
Marketers are worried that the NNPCL is giving them the product paid for at the old rate since eight months ago for the new rates.
They are concerned about recovering money to pay for the loans, with which they purchased the “tickets”.
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), National Vice President, Alhaji Abubakar Maigandi, confirmed the new ex-depot price.
NNPCL Chief Communication Officer, Malam Garba Deen Muhammad, was not available for comments.
Maigandi said: “Some depots are selling at the rate of N479.50. That is the ex-depot price.
“Banks are charging based on the money they lent to you. Again, we, the independent petroleum marketers have already purchased the product from NNPCL for eight months.
“Now, they are saying they will give us the product for this new rate and not the old rate.
“And it is with our money they (NNPCL) bought this product. These are part of the challenges we are encountering now.”
Maigandi said the new pump prices have affected the demand for products.
He said what marketers pay for one petrol truck is higher than what they used to pay for three.
“Sales have drastically reduced. Marketers rely on bank facilities. The money you used to get one truck, you have to triple it before you get one.”
According to him, the demand has reduced by 80 per cent.
He said: “The product is very much available, but people are not buying. Demand is as low as by 80 per cent decline.
“It is only 20 per cent that is buying the product now. Had they removed the subsidy gradually, it would have been very good.
“We are not against the removal of subsidy at all, but the way it was done is where the problem is.”
Maigandi urged the Federal Government to reconcile the outstanding tickets and provide palliatives.
