Subsidy Removal: FG, NLC Meeting Ends in Deadlock

The meeting between the Federal Government and the National Labour Congress (NLC) has ended in deadlock.

Daily Report Nigeria reports that no consensus was reached when FG met the NLC on Wednesday following the fuel subsidy removal pronouncement by President Bola Tinubu.

It was said that the hours-long meeting held at the Presidential Villa was to, among other things, prevent a labour crisis following the recent increase in petrol pump prices occasioned by the discontinuance of petroleum subsidy.

READ ALSO: Subsidy Removal: Be Ready For More Shocks – Labour Party Tells Nigerians

The President of the Nigerian Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero said after the meeting:

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“As far as labour is concerned, we didn’t have a consensus in this meeting.”

Ajaero further disagreed with
the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL)’s action by reviewing the petrol pump price in its filling stations nationwide.

He said:

“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.

READ ALSO: Oil Marketers Reject Subsidy Removal

“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.”

Meanwhile, NNPCL boss, Dele Alake spoke on behalf of the Federal Government that the negotiations were still ongoing, saying the parties will meet again.