The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has concluded its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, which focused on the new wage award for civil servants in Nigeria, announced by President Bola Tinubu. The purpose of this wage increase is to mitigate the effects of the subsidy removal on Premium Motor Spirit, commonly known as petrol.
Following the conclusion of the meeting, the TUC is now expected to engage in discussions with government representatives to determine whether the offer by the government has been accepted by its members.
Tommy Etim, the National Deputy President of the TUC, who also serves as the National President of the Association of Senior Civil Servants, disclosed this development in an interview with a correspondent in Abuja on Monday. He mentioned that recommendations were received from members of the TUC’s NEC during the meeting and that these recommendations would be conveyed to the government later in the day.
This development comes after Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to President Tinubu, indicated on Sunday that the government had reached agreements with both labor centers, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the TUC, which could potentially lead to the suspension of their planned nationwide strike. Gbajabiamila mentioned that the Federal Government had committed to implementing measures to address disputes arising from the fuel subsidy removal.
The NLC president also promised to consult with union members to consider the government’s offers and the potential suspension of the planned strike. Further details on the outcome of these discussions are expected to be provided at a later time.