Fuel Subsidy: FG, Labour Meeting ends in deadlock

The meeting between the federal government, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) over the fuel subsidy removal ended in a deadlock at the State House, Abuja Wednesday evening.

The meeting, which took place at the conference room of the Chief of Staff’s office, could not agree on the timing for the removal of the subsidy on petroleum products.

While the federal government is saying the new price regime introduced on Wednesday morning by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) signalling the end of fuel subsidy has come to stay, NLC and TUC are insisting on the old price order to allow for further consultations before any price hike.

Former director in the defunct Tinubu/ Shettima campaign organization, Dele Alake, who spoke with newsmen on behalf of government after the close-door meeting, said the meeting was adjourned till a later date for a concrete decision to be taken by both sides.

The NLC President, Joe Ajaero, however, disagreed, saying the meeting was deadlocked as no agreement was reached at the meeting.

According to him, the old fuel price should remain pending the time Labour will meet with their members and report back to another meeting expected to be convened later by federal government.

He faulted the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited over an official release published hours earlier, reviewing the petrol pump price in its filling stations nationwide.

He said the move puts the labour unions in a difficult position on the negotiation table.

“That’s the principle of negotiation. You don’t put the partner, ask them to negotiate under gunpoint.

“The prayers of the NLC is that we go back to status quo, negotiate, think of alternatives and all the effects and how to manage the effects this action is going to have on the people, if it is an action that must take off.

“The subsidy provision has been made up to the end of June. And before then, conscious people, labour management, government, should be able to think of what will happen at the end of June. You don’t start it before the time,” Ajaero said.

Source: Thisdays