Prior to halting its planned statewide strike, which was set to begin on June 7, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) reached seven important agreements with the federal government on Monday, June 5.

Hours before the employees backtracked after reaching an agreement with the government, the ICIR stated that the union was on track for its first significant countrywide strike in eight years.

The NLC announced the strike in an effort to persuade the government to reverse its decision to eliminate the petrol subsidy.

A sister organisation, the Trade Union Congress (TUC), was meeting with the Federal Government to try to prevent the strike while the NLC was mobilising its members throughout the nation’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

The TUC also offered the Federal Government solutions to the impending problem.

The Federal Government requested an ex-parte injunction from the National Industrial Court in Abuja to halt the industrial action in an effort to prevent the labour union from going on strike.

On Monday, June 5, Justice O. Y. Anuwe of the National Industrial Court ordered the workers to halt the planned strike pending the determination of the case brought against them by the government

Meanwhile, another government delegation headed by the Chief of Staff to the President, and Speaker, House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, met with the Joe Ajaero-led NLC and the TUC.

The parties agreed on the following, which led to suspension of the planned strike on Monday night.

• 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 conversion program earlier agreed with labour centres in 2021 and work out detailed implementation and tinting. 
• 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 the completion of the rehabilitation of the nation’s refineries. 
• The Federal Government to provide a framework for the maintenance of roads and the 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. 

• 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. 

Festus Osifo, President of the Trade Union Congress, Joe Ajaero, President of the National Labour Congress, Nuhu Tors, Secretary General of the Trade Union Congress, Emmanuel Ugboaja, General Secretary of the National Labour Congress, Kachollom S. Daju, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, and Femi Gbajabiamila, Speaker of the House of Representatives, all signed the agreement.