News

Subsidy: FG And NLC Meeting Ends In Deadlock

Meeting between the Federal Government and the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) over fuel subsidy removal ended in deadlock on Wednesday.

Gatekeepers News reports that the meeting which began around 4 pm on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja ended without a consensus.

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 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.

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

The NLC National President, Joe Ajaero, said there should be a formal engagement with the Labour Union to protect the Nigerian workforce and proffer additional solutions before the removal.

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

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

Contrarily, Alake described the meeting as robust, adding that talks would continue, expressing hope that the parties would reach a reasonable conclusion at its next adjourned meeting.

During his inaugural speech at the Eagle Square in Abuja on Monday, President Bola Tinubu said the era of subsidy payment on fuel has ended, adding that with the 2023 budget making no provision for fuel subsidy, further payment was no longer justifiable.

Tinubu said, “The fuel subsidy is gone.” He noted that the government would instead channel funds into infrastructure and other areas to strengthen the economy.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and the House Of Representatives have since backed Tinubu’s decision.

On the other hand, the TUC and NLC have called for the federal government to return to status quo due to the hardship the policy will mount on Nigerians.

Remi Ibikunle

Recent Posts

Ikeja DisCo Slashes Band A Electricity Tariff

Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company says it has reduced the tariff for customers under Band A…

38 mins ago

80% Of Buildings In Lekki Have No Government Approval — LASG

Commissioner for physical planning and urban development in Lagos, Oluyinka Olumide, says 80 percent of…

40 mins ago

Rivers Political Crisis Has Not Affected Governance — Fubara

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara says that the ongoing political crisis in the State has…

2 hours ago

Mende Buildings Demolished To Avert Flooding Of Lagos Mainland — Tokunbo Wahab

Lagos state commissioner for environment and water resources, Tokunbo Wahab says some buildings in Mende…

2 hours ago

Newspaper Headlines: Five Things You Need To Know This Morning

Newspaper Headlines: Five Things You Need To Know This Morning Dollar To Naira Exchange Rate…

9 hours ago

Dependents From Nigeria To UK Rose From 1500 To 52k In 2 Years – British High Commissioner

Richard Montgomery, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, has disclosed that the number of dependents…

11 hours ago