The Federal Government has announced that certain agreements reached with organized labor during the October 2023 negotiation meeting are not immediately implementable.
One such agreement, the establishment of conversion centers for Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), requires more time before it can be realized, according to the government.
The government clarified its stance following dissatisfaction expressed by organized labor regarding the handling of the agreements. Members of the organized labor threatened to commence a nationwide strike within 14 days, starting from February 9, 2024, if the agreements were not promptly implemented.
Addressing journalists in Abuja, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, emphasized that the implementation of all agreements cannot occur simultaneously and urged labor leaders to be patient.
Onyejeocha highlighted ongoing efforts in relation to the CNG agreement, citing the procurement of 11,500 CNG vehicles, including buses and tricycles, by the Ministry of Finance. These vehicles are expected to be rolled out soon by President Bola Tinubu.
Furthermore, the minister disclosed that the government is collaborating with the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) to expedite visits to refineries for on-the-spot assessments. Additionally, provisions have been made for an initial 55,000 CNG conversion kits as part of the auto gas conversion programme.
The development of state-of-the-art CNG conversion centres nationwide is underway, with the aim of facilitating the conversion of one million vehicles to bi-fuel CNG/PMS, thereby enabling transporters and mass transit operators to utilise the cheaper alternative fuel.
The government assured its commitment to improving the welfare of Nigerians and implementing the agreements entered into with organized labor. However, it emphasized the need for patience as certain initiatives, particularly the establishment of CNG conversion centers, require more time for execution.
