The Nigeria Labour Unions (NLC & TUC) has agreed to call off the planned strikes scheduled for Wednesday, June 7th, 2023.

The union conceded to call off the strike after a closed-door meeting with government officials in Aso Rock late on Monday evening (5th of June 2023).

In attendance at this meeting were CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele, former Governor of Edo State Adams Oshiomole, former Labour Minister of State Festus Keyamo, and Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila, according to TVC news station.

The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has made a demand from the government.

The demands include that the Minimum wage be increased from the current amount of N30,000 to N200,000 before the end of June 2023 and there should be a Tax holiday for employees both in the government and private sector that earn less than N200,000 or 500USD monthly. This was noted in a statement signed by the union’s President, Mr Festus Osifo, and General Secretary,  Mr Nuhu Toro on Monday.

The demands made by the Union were in a bid to make the burden of the removal of fuel subsidies lighter for the Nigerian workforce. Other demands include:

• “Minimum wage should be increased from the current N30,000 to N200,000 before the end of June 2023, with consequential adjustment on the cost of feeding allowance, like feeding, transport, and housing, among others.
• “A representative of state governors will be party to this communique and all the governors must commit to implement the new minimum wage.
• “Tax holiday for employees both in government and private sector that earn less than N200,000 or 500USD monthly whichever is higher.
• “PMS Allowance to be introduced for those earning between N200,000 to N500,000 or 500USD to 1,200USD whichever is higher,”

They also encouraged the setting up of an intervention fund where the government would be paying N10 per litre on all PMS consumed locally, with the sole purpose of using this fund to solve unending and prolonged national issues in education, health, and housing. It was also resolved that:

• “A governance structure that will include labour, civil society, and the government will be put in place to manage the implementation.
• “Federal Government should provide mass transit vehicles for all categories of the populace.
• “State governments should immediately set up a subsidised transportation system to reduce the pressure on workers and students: the framework around this will be worked out.
• “Immediate review of the National Health Insurance Scheme to cover more Nigerians and prevent out-of-stock of drugs.”