FG, Labour meeting ends in deadlock
By Modupe Shodeinde
The Federal Government meeting with the Organised Labour on the increment of the petroleum pump price and hike in electricity tariff, ended in a deadlock as Labour walked out of meeting.
The labour leaders accused the federal government of insincerity, specifically on the decision of government to increase fuel price while discussion on the effects of previous hike in prices was still ongoing.
The meeting which held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Sunday, came to a sudden halt when Deputy President of NLC, Comrade Joe Ajaero, insisted that the issue of the recent increase in fuel price should be put first on the agenda for discussion but the government side said that it would rather have other issues deliberated on before delving into the fuel price increase.
The General Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Comrade Emma Ugbaja said, “We have had some understanding over time, but while these meetings were ongoing, we were suddenly slapped with a new increase in petroleum price and we felt that was beyond what we had as an understanding with the government.
“And we felt that should be the first item for understanding today. But surprisingly the government team felt otherwise, they felt the issue of imaginary palliatives should be discussed before what is causing the need for the palliatives should be discussed.
“And we felt that was putting the cart before the horse. We want to address the issue on petroleum pricing before we begin to think whether there is need for palliatives or not and on that strength we felt we cannot continue with a meeting whose agenda is wrongly prioritized.
“When the Government is willing to take it the way it is, we are ever ready to engage and to have things properly determined.”
The government team led by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Boss Mustapha and the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige’s efforts to persuade the labour leaders to listen to their presentation fell on deaf ears .
Ugbaja said they would have to go back and discuss with their organs to agree on the way forward.
The Trade Union Congress, TUC President, Comrade Quadri Olaleye said that the government was not sincere with the labour in the discussion.
