- Safiu Kehinde
The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has suspended its planned strike action over the 50 percent hike in telecommunication tariff by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
This was announced by the Congress President, Joe Ajaero, following a meeting with the federal government delegation led by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, last night.
The strike which was slated to commence today was suspended as Ajaero disclosed that the labour and the federal government had agreed to have a 10-man committee, evenly split between both parties to look at the entire tariff structure and model and come up with realistic and all inclusive recommendations.
The NLC President stated that the committee will come out with a report after two weeks which will determine the next line of action.
“That will determine the next line of action and the process of engagement.The symbolic action of submitting the letters tomorrow (today ) will be put on hold until the outcome of such a committee. The outcome of such a committee is what will determine our next line of action in terms of protest, in terms of boycott, in terms of withdrawal of services, which are the three issues put on line.
“But we are going to use the subject of this meeting to put in our displeasure on the arbitrary tariff and the tax that is killing the workers now.The tax regime which is unbearable. So, those are actions that are still on course until they are addressed.”
Speaking on behalf of the Federal Government, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, confirmed the NLC agreement to suspend the strike as he stressed that the meeting was aimed at maintaining industrial harmony and protecting the interest of Nigerians.
According to report, the minister said the parties agreed to set up a 10-man committee made of representatives of the federal government and NLC to review the study by the NCC and submit its report within two weeks.
“So, the summary of it is that Labour and the Nigerian Labour Congress specifically and the delegation of the federal government have set up a committee of five each. We are going to meet here continuously for the next two weeks. And at the end of the second week, we will now come up with a recommendation that we will give to the government and the organised Labour for final consideration.
“The crux of the matter is that there is already a study that was conducted by the NCC that led them to arrive at this 50 per cent increase. Now, we are discussing this with labour. Labour has agreed that they will look at that study.
“We are going to meet here continuously for the next two weeks. Now, I think what has happened here has effectively taken out that position.Both of us have agreed. In fact, it is an attempt to put a stop to that that led us to make this meeting to happen today. And so this meeting has happened.
“Both the organised Labour, the NLC in particular, the government people have sat down here and agreed on this position. So, there won’t be any protest tomorrow by the Nigerian Labour Congress. There will be some form of report that will come up in about two weeks from now to consider the study and other considerations by both parties,” Idris said.