*As parties refuse to agree on demands put forward by either side
*Labour insists subsidy removal must be reversed before any negotiation will commence
*FG woos workers with $800m cash transfer, other incentives
*Plans renegotiating national minimum wage as well as a PMS allowance
By Michael Oche
A meeting called by the federal government to negotiate with organized labour on the recently announced fuel subsidy removal on Wednesday ended in a deadlock with both parties refusing to agree to the demands of either side.
Organised Labour, comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) on Wednesday commenced negotiations with officials of the federal government on the recently announced fuel subsidy removal.
The proclamation of an end of the fuel subsidy regime by President Bola Tinubu on Monday during his inaugural speech has sparked hoarding of the product and panic buying. On Wednesday, the NNPC announced it has fixed new prices of petrol across 36 States of the Federation for the Premium Motor Spirit PMS popularly known as fuel between N488 and N555 per litre.
The Organised Labour is led by the President of the NLC, Comrade Joe Ajaero, and his TUC counterpart, Comrade Festus Osifo.
Federal Government’s representatives in the meeting include the former President of NLC Comrade Adams Oshiomhole; the Permanent Secretary, State House Tijjani Umar; the Head of Service of the Federation, Dr. Foldable Yemi-Esan and the Group Chief Executive Officer, of the NNPCL, Mele Kyari among others.
Sources inside the meeting told our correspondent that the federal government has made an offer of $800 million dollars cash transfers to Nigerians, as well as renegotiating the national minimum wage and a PMS allowance.
Labour however demanded that the new subsidy should be reversed before any negotiation commenced.
The meeting however ended in a deadlock and was adjourned to Sunday.
However, a source said the organ of the Nigeria Labour Congress is expected to meet on Friday to take a decision on its next line of action.
Earlier, the NLC had in a statement described the announcement of new price of petrol by the NNPC as an “ambush” on workers, especially when expected negotiation was yet to commence
Comrade Joe Ajaero, NLC President in a statement said government cannot in one breathe be talking about deregulation and at the same time fixing the prices of Petroleum products, adding that this negates the spirit of allowing the operation of the free market unless the government has as usual usurped, captured or become Market forces.
