By Mathew Dadiya, Abuja
Nigerian Labour Congress on Sunday refused to honour a meeting called by Federal Government to resolve the crisis arising from the removal of subsidy on petrol.
The FG however met with representatives of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The meeting, which kicked off about 5pm Sunday, is said to have been at the instance of the federal government and is expected to be discussing fallouts from the removal of fuel subsidy.
The NLC insisted that the Federal Government must reverse the price of the Petroleum Motor Spirit (PMs) to the old rate before they will honour any invitation for further discussion.
It would be recalled that the Organised Labour, including the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) held a meeting with the government last Wednesday, which was held in a deadlock.
The Federal Government’s team is led by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume.
Others are the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele; former Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole; and the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari.
Also in the meeting are the Executive Secretary of the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC), Zacch Adedeji; Executive Vice President, Downstream, of the NNPCL, Yemi Adetunji; former Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Dele Alake; Hon James Faleke, amon others.
On the TUC side are seven members, led by their President, Mr Festus Osifo.
Meanwhile, NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, who described the recent
NNPC pricing template as vexatious and an ambush, added that the dialogue is in danger.
“We are worried that the Government through the NNPC despite the ongoing meeting of Stakeholders in the oil and Gas sector to manage the unilateral but unfortunate announcement by the President to withdraw subsidy on petroleum products, went ahead this morning to announce a new regime of prices under a new pricing template.
“This is an ambush and runs against the spirit and principles of Social Dialogue which remains the best platform available for the resolution of all the issues arising out of the petroleum Down-stream sector. Government cannot in one breath be talking about deregulation and at the same time fixing the prices of Petroleum products. This negates the spirit of allowing the operation of the free market unless the government has as usual usurped, captured or become Market forces.
“It is therefore unacceptable and we seriously condemn it. Good faith negotiation is key to reaching agreement. What the government has done is like holding a gun to the head of Nigerian people and bringing undue pressure on the leaders thus undermining the dialogue.
“We call on the federal government to immediately instruct the NNPC to withdraw this vexatious Pricing template to allow free flow of discussions by the parties.
“Nigerians would not accept any manipulations of any kind from any of the parties especially from the representatives of the Government.
“Our commitment to this process is buoyed on the fact that all the parties would be committed to ensuring that it is carried out within the ambits of liberty without undue pressure.
“The release of that Template may not allow us to continue if nothing is done to withdraw it so that the dialogue can continue unhindered. It is clear that the Government is actually trying to scuttle the process.
“As it stands, the federal government has become fixated on their chosen course of action. Would this help this dialogue? It clearly will not. There must be flexibility to allow concessions and reasonable accommodation that will produce the best result for Nigerian people. This is what we all seek at this time”, he said.
