From Abuja
The national strike called by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC and the Trade Union Congress(TUC) to protest increase in the pump price of fuel and hike in electricity tarrif, scheduled to commence on September 28, has been suspended for two weeks.
The Reporters, an online publication gathered that the development followed the marathon meetings between the Federal government and the organise labour,leading to the suspension of the strike.
This follows the agreement reached between the Federal Government and the organized labour in Abuja during a meeting that started on Sunday night up to the early hours of Monday morning.
The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, made the disclosure through a tweet post on his twitter handle.
In the agreement, the hike in electricity tariff is to be suspended for 2 weeks while the new pump price of petrol remains unchanged.
The parties involved also agreed to set up a technical committee on electricity tariff reforms, comprising Ministries, Agencies, Departments, NLC and TUC,to work for 2 weeks, effect from September 28, 2020.
The online publication further gathered that the setting up of the commiter was sequel to the conflicting field reports which appear different from the data presented to justify the new policy by NERC concerning metering deployment, challenges and timelines for massive rollout.
The technical committee is to be headed by the Minister of State for Labour and Labour, Festus Keyamo.
Other members of the committee include the Minister of State Power, Godwin Jedy-Agba, Executive Chairman, National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), James Momoh, Special Assistant to the President on Infrastructure, Ahmad Zakari as the Secretary.
Other members of the committee are:Onoho’Omhen Ebhohimhen, Joe Ajaero (NLC), Chris Okonkwo (TUC) and a representative of electricity distribution companies.
The terms of reference of the technical committee are:
To examine the justification for the new policy on cost-reflective electricity tariff adjustments.
To look at the different Electricity Distribution Companies (DISCOs) and their different electricity vis-à-vis NERC order and mandate.
Examine and advise government on the issues that have hindered the deployment of the 6 million meters.
To look into the NERC Act under review with a view to expanding its representation to include organized labour.
Some members of public who spoke with the online in Lokoja, commended the Governmemt and the Labour for the resolution to avert the strike.
“The Federal government and the organised labour must be communicated for saving the nation of another strike that would paralised social and economic activities among others.
The strike would have compounded the socio-economic challenges,for Nigerians, especially the poor and the vulnerable,”Mr Moses Adavuruku, a retired civil servant said.
He called on the members of the technical committee set up to look into the issues to do a thorough job with a view for the call off of the strike at the end of the day.
