The Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Oyo State, Comrade Kayode Martins has explained that the national leadership of the union suspended the nationwide protest rallies to give government more time to address the issues contained in the Memoranda of Understanding signed on October 2, 2023.
Martins disclosed this at a press conference held at the NLC state secretariat on Tuesday.
He noted that some of its demands from the government were the need for provision of CNG conversion centres across the state, rehabilitation of local refineries, and provision of modular refineries.
He particularly noted that the labour was dismayed that the federal government is yet to provide the promised high capacity CNG buses for mass transit in Nigeria.
The NLC leader referenced the government’s promise to roll out initial 55,000 CNG conversion kits and auto gas conversion programme with pilots across 10 campuses nationwide which was yet to see the light of the day.
Speaking, Martins said the federal government was expected to grant a wage award of 35,000 to all federal government workers pending when a new national minimum wage is arrived at.
He added that the NLC also wanted the suspension of collection of Value Added Tax (VAT) on diesel for six months and the government implement various tax incentive measures for the private sector and the general public.
The standing request, he added, is that the federal government commits to pay N25,000 per month to 15 million households for three months, including vulnerable pensioners.
He added that the government is expected to increase its initiatives on subsidized distribution of fertilizers to farmers across the country.
Martins reiterated labour’s call on the government to commit to the provision of funds for Micro and Small Scale Enterprises and to attend to the issue of outstanding salaries and wages of tertiary education workers in federal- owned institutions.
Reiterating commitment to the rights and welfare of Nigerians, the NLC asked the government to prioritize the enactment of policies that promote economic stability and address systemic issues that perpetuate inequality and suffering.
The NLC also demanded that state governments consider giving wage award to not only state workers but also local government and private sector workers.
This is as it expressed commitment to visiting refineries to ascertain their rehabilitation status.
