.NLC orders affiliates to be on alert
.Disagree with govt on fuel price, tax relief
.As NEC endorses 90-day plan to ease hardship
Akor Sylvester, Abuja with agency report
The meeting between the federal government and organised labour, convened at the ministry of labour in Abuja, over high price of petroleum products, minimum wage negotiation, implementation of tax relief and others, has ended without resolution.
Labour presented its demands in good faith; including a reduction in petrol prices to 2024 levels, renegotiation of the national minimum wage, implementation of the agreed tax relief, the JOHESU terms of settlement, and the JPSNC demands on peculiar allowance, wage award and hazard allowance.
in a statement signed by the Acting General Secretary of NLC, Benson Upah at the end of the meeting, the organised labour said, the government delegation came unprepared and without the necessary mandates to engage deeply on the issues.
The statement read: “No concrete commitments were secured, and the outstanding issues remain unresolved.
“The Honourable Minister requested for adjournment of the meeting to Tuesday, 27th October 2026, to allow the government to make adequate arrangements for a productive session including assembling all the relevant ministers and heads of departments and agencies.
“NLC remains committed to dialogue, but we will not accept indefinite delay. We will report back to our organs, and if no meaningful progress is made on Tuesday, the relevant organs of the NLC will decide the next line of action.
“We call on Nigerian workers and the general public to remain calm and resolute. Organised Labour will be attending the next meeting believing that government will deliver on each of the workers’ demands.
“We assure all that we shall continue to pursue the interests of workers and the masses through every legitimate means available.
“However, we urge all affiliates of NLC; all state councils and our civil society allies to be on alert and start mobilizing for a possible action across the nation while we hope that the tenets of our demands are met by the government”.
NEC endorses 90-day plan to ease hardship
Meanwhile, the National Economic Council (NEC), on Thursday endorsed a 90-day economic action plan to reduce cost of living, improve food affordability, and attracting investment in the country.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the action plan was proposed by the Federal Ministry of Finance to consolidate gains from President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms.
The plan will accelerates the delivery of projects with direct benefits to Nigerians.
The council’s endorsement followed a presentation by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, during its 161st meeting held virtually.
The meeting was chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima.
Shettima explained that Tinubu’s economic reform programme was designed to achieve broader national prosperity.
He said that governments at all levels have a responsibility to translate its objectives into improved living conditions for Nigerians.
Shettima urged governors and relevant government institutions to ensure that the gains of the administration’s economic reforms translate into affordable transportation, improved healthcare, employment opportunities and greater financial security for Nigerians.
The vice president said the success of economic policies must ultimately be measured by their impact on citizens’ daily lives.
He stressed that the responsibility of government extends beyond announcing reforms to building institutions that enable Nigerians to plan their futures with confidence.
”The first dividend of prosperity should be the confidence to plan a life. Our task is to make such confidence less dependent on fortune.
”The council’s deliberations on transportation, healthcare, police reform, and livestock development represent critical decisions about the quality of life Nigerians should expect from economic progress.
“Our separate jurisdictions must serve a common public interest,” Shettima said.
He emphasised that Nigeria’s federal structure must strengthen cooperation rather than become an obstacle to the delivery of essential services.
On the National Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Bus Initiative, Shettima underscored the need for state governments to support affordable transportation systems that would reduce the financial burden on commuters.
He maintained that the success of the programme should be determined by affordability and accessibility rather than the number of vehicles deployed.
“The cost of reaching a livelihood should never consume the livelihood itself.
”The passenger’s experience must guide our ambition, because the value of public transport resides in the journeys it makes possible.
”We should assess success through affordability and access, rather than fleet size alone,” he said.
The vice president said Tinubu made economic reform the instrument of a larger national ambition.
”Our contribution must give that ambition social depth and productive strength,” he stated.
He urged governors to bring their understanding of local realities into national policy decisions.
The vice president insisted that effective implementation requires clear responsibilities and practical agreements among the tiers of government.
“Our separate mandates must not become competing excuses.
“Each Governor carries knowledge that no federal document can supply,” he said.
Shettima challenged members of the Council to judge every policy proposal by its capacity to reduce uncertainty, create opportunities and strengthen public confidence in government.
Presenting the economic outlook, Oyedele expressed optimism about the progress recorded under the Tinubu administration’s reform programme and the prospects for further economic recovery.
He identified the reduction of headline inflation and interest rates to single digits by 2027 as key policy objectives.
The minister noted that the next phase of reforms would require coordinated implementation across federal and state institutions.
Meanwhile, NEC received an update on the reported Ebola outbreak in the Federal Capital Territory from the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate.
Pate allayed fears of a major public health crisis, assuring members that Nigeria possesses the institutional capacity to contain the situation.
The minister briefed Council on efforts by the ministry, in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, to operationalise a robust national response system.
He identified coordination and governance, detection at points of entry, laboratory testing capacity, logistics for essential kits and personal protective equipment.
Pate acknowledged the efforts of 21 state governments that had updated their response plans.
He urged the remaining 15 states to expedite the establishment of appropriate preparedness and response mechanisms.
For a better society
_______________________________
Follow us across our platforms:
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/championnewsonline/
Facebook – https://web.facebook.com/championnewsonline
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/champion-newspapers-limited/
https://x.com/championnewsng/
You can also like and comment on our YouTube videos.
https://youtu.be/QIBfD1tT80w?si=R4Qf3so2LxYu3GC2
