The federal government says it will continue to work out measures to ameliorate the effect of the fuel subsidy removal on Nigerians.
These measures include introducing compressed natural gas, mass transportation and cleaner energy alternatives.
Special Adviser to the President on Energy, Olu Verheijen, disclosed this at the end of a meeting with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), in Abuja on Wednesday.
She said the meeting made progress in agreeing to fast-track several interventions that would stop the planned strike by NLC.
“But we are making progress. We’re trying to address the issues that will prevent a strike. We have to get it right. It’s important that we do this well and we keep our promises. So it’s important that whatever is announced actually gets done,” Ms Verheijen said. “We don’t want to make big announcements and continue to lose people’s trust.”
The presidential aide added, ‘’It’s important that we build trust and that most of the announcements and the plans that we roll out are credible and impactful.”
Some of the things they presented we did not agree with. So, the areas we did not agree with, we also made our input known.
She assured that Mr Tinubu was taking measures to address issues concerning the palliatives, adding that he is very concerned about it.
NLC President, Joe Ajaero, said: ‘’We met based on the N520 increase and the committee that was set based on that, and we agreed to work to realise the objectives that were set during that moment. The two centres have made their positions known and are before Nigerians; the TUC, the NLC, our position is known. And it’s public knowledge.”
Mr Ajaero added, ‘’Nobody is discussing N617 as of now, and this meeting didn’t have the competence to address that.”
TUC President, Festus Osifo, said: “Some of the things they presented we did not agree with. So, the areas we did not agree with, we also made our input known. When you come to such a meeting, it is for the government or its representatives to do a presentation. But it’s left for us to either agree or disagree.
“So, during the meeting, we gave them sufficient feedback. And they also agreed to go and look at those feedback and get back to us on Friday.” (NAN)
