Fuel Subsidy Removal: FG, NLC meeting ends in deadlock

 

 

 

The meeting billed for Wednesday between the Federal Government and the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) over fuel subsidy removal ended without a consensus.

It was reliably gathered that the meeting began around 4 pm on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the nation’s capital.

Representatives of the Federal Government included Dele Alake, the spokesperson for President Bola Tinubu; and the Group CEO of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Mele Kyari.

Other government officials present at the meeting were the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele; and former Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole.

The Organised Labour was represented by the NLC National President, Joe Ajaero; and the President of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), Festus Osifo.

After several hours of meeting with the Federal Government, the NLC demanded that the Federal Government return to the status quo by reversing the price of fuel before resuming negotiations with the NLC.

The National President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, who condemned the removal of subsidy insisted that the status quo returns before any formal engagement with the NLC to protect the Nigerian workforce and proffer additional solutions.

The NLC maintained that the Federal Government did not enter into any conversation even on palliative measures for Nigerians, hence the rejection of the latest announcement.

The union said it had decided to reconvene with its members to determine the next line of action.

Meanwhile, Alake described the meeting as robust, adding that talks would continue. He expressed optimism that the parties would reach a reasonable conclusion at its next adjourned meeting.