The meeting between the Federal Government and the Labour movement to
avert the proposed nationwide strike over the removal of fuel subsidy
will reconvene on Tuesday at 3pm.
This was disclosed by Babachir Lawal, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
The
meeting, which lasted into the early hours of Tuesday, was adjourned to
allow both sides to consult further with their constituencies before
reconvening.
Lawal, who led the government delegation in the
closed-door meeting, while speaking with journalists thereafter,
commended all parties for attending the meeting.
He said: “We had a very fruitful discussion.
“The discussions were frank and friendly.
“We
have covered very many grounds on the issues in contention and we have
almost reached some agreements on quite a number of issues.
“The night has gone far and there is a need to consult our constituencies.
“We have agreed to adjourn to reconvene later in the day at 3pm.
“By the time every group reports back to those that sent them to this meeting, hopefully, we will conclude early.”
Lawal noted that the discussions were frank, adding that there was empathy to all contending positions.
He expressed optimism that the end result would be beneficial to all.
On
his part, Ayuba Wabba, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress,
who led the Labour delegation, said the union presented their demands
just as the government put forward its position.
Abba said: “As
you are aware, our organisations are very democratic and, therefore, we
need to also consult before we can actually take a position later in the
day.
“So, we have adjourned the meeting to do further consultations.”
Similarly, Bobboi Kaigama, the President of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, said the deliberations were fruitful.
Kaigama said both parties had agreed that they would further consult with their organs and reconvene later in the day.
The government delegation also had a separate closed-door meeting with the NLC faction led by Joe Ajaero.
Ajaero also told journalists that his group would meet again at 5pm on Tuesday.
He said the group would come up with a proposal to the Federal Government on the way forward.
According
to him, the contending issues raised at the meeting were the National
Minimum Wage, N500 billion social intervention fund and the
reconstitution of the board of the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory
Agency.
He said: “The board is responsible for fixing of prices
and we equally told them the issue of price increases had featured in
past administrations.
“We equally demanded from them to tell us whether this is deregulation or price regulated market.
“And there were other issues we also raised and we were told to come up with a proposal.”
NAN
reports that the government delegation included Governor Adams
Oshiomhole of Edo State; the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator
Chris Ngige; and the Minister of State for Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu.
Others
were the Minister of State for Solid Minerals, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; the
Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; and the Special Adviser to
the President on National Assembly Matters Ita Enang, among others.
On the Labour delegations were the General Secretaries of both NLC and TUC, Dr. Peter Ozo-Eson and Simeso Amachree.
Others
were the Deputy President of the NLC and TUC, Najim Yaseem and Austin
Etafo; as well as the President, Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff
Association of Nigeria, Francis Olabode Johnson.
On the NLC
faction delegation were Igwu Achese, the President of the Nigeria Union
of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers; and the Nigeria Union of
Electricity Employees among
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