The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) did not attend yesterday’s meeting between a federal government delegation and representatives of organised labour at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, over the removal of subsidy on premium motor spirit (PMS), popularly called petrol.
Five days after a first meeting with the new government on the subject ended in a deadlock, another meeting was convened with representatives of the NLC and Trade Union Congress (TUC) at the Presidential Villa over the removal of subsidy on petrol for further discussions.
Recall that President Bola Tinubu had during his inauguration speech on May 29, said “petrol subsidy is gone”, a development that led to the arbitrary increases in the pump prices of petroleum products across the country.
As a result, petrol now sells for between N500 and N700 per litre depending on the outlet and location with attendant long queues and wastage of many man-hours waiting to buy the “scarce” commodity.
To this effect, all National Leadership are expected to mobilise their members for the action and ensure full compliance with the directives as services in both the public and private sectors are expected to be fully withdrawn by Wednesday, 7th June 2023.
NLC resolve
Following the pump price increases, NLC in a statement had called on “the federal government to immediately instruct the NNPCL to withdraw this vexatious pricing template to allow free flow of discussions by the parties.”
NLC President Joe Ajaero, and his TUC counterpart, Festus Osifo, had told state house correspondents after the first meeting that the government must return to the old price of petrol or workers will embark on a nationwide strike billed to commence on Wednesday.
To make good its threat, The Congress had written to all its affiliate unions, urging them to rally their members in preparation for a nationwide strike set to commence on Wednesday, June 7, in a letter signed by its General Secretary, Emmanuel Ugboaja, on Saturday.
The letter reads: “Please be informed that the nationwide action will commence on Wednesday, 7th June 2023. To this effect, all National Leadership are expected to mobilise their members for the action and ensure full compliance with the directives as services in both the public and private sectors are expected to be fully withdrawn by Wednesday, 7th June 2023.
“All Presidents and General Secretaries are expected to help ensure the implementation of the decisions of the National Executive Council.”
Already, over 40 of the NLC affiliates, including the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), and the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), have expressed support and written to their members to join the strike.
Meeting with government
Meanwhile, present at the Sunday meeting which began at 5 p.m., were the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, who led the dialogue; the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele; the Group Chief Executive Officer, NNPC Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari; and former governor of Edo state, Adams Oshiomhole.
Others were Executive Secretary, National Sugar Development Council (NSDC), Zacch Adedeji; Executive Vice President, Downstream, NNPCL, Yemi Adetunji; former Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Dele Alake; James Faleke, and a host of others, while the TUC President, Usifo, led a seven-man team.
