NLC, TUC Stage Walk Out From Meeting With FG

Labour union representatives have on Sunday staged a walk-out from a meeting with the Federal Government over the hikes in fuel pump price and the electricity tariff.

The dialogue, which was meant to take updates on the implementation of resolutions reached during three previous meetings, ended abruptly barely 10 minutes after it commenced at the Presidential Villa banquet hall, Abuja.

The meeting started at 8:18 pm when the Trade Union Congress President, Quadri Olaleye, raised the issue of the latest hike in fuel pump price from N160 to N170.

He accused the government of insincerity, stating that the meeting must record progress otherwise, the labour leaders would walk out of the parley, adding that they were beginning to lose confidence in the government.

According to the TUC leader, several meetings held on the issues had not recorded any appreciable progress.

Olaleye said;

Government is showing a high level of insincerity in discussions with us and is also putting us at risk with the people we are leading, with the masses. We find it difficult to move freely but the people in government are moving freely.

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He stressed;

This meeting is not going to be as usual. Why, because we have seen the insincerity of government and it’s putting us at risk. They are taking us for a ride, which cannot continue. We are in the process of discussing, for over three months now. And they made announcement increasing the fuel price again. And no other person than NNPC. When has authority been giving to NNPC to increase the price of PMS? This is unacceptable.

The TUC President added;

The meeting agenda is not well prioritised. And because of that, we are leaving the meeting. We will not continue, we will go back to our organ, and we are going to get back to you on the next line of action.

Representing Nigerian Labour Congress was its deputy president, Najeem Yasin.

In attendance from the federal government were the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, the Minister of State for Labour, Festus Keyamo, Minister of State for Petroleum, Timiprye Sylva, Minister of state for power, Goddy Agba and the Secretary to the Government, Boss Mustapha.

Labour minister, Ngige, after the walkout by the union representatives, said;

We felt that the item of increase in PMS, having been listed at all as an additional item, would have satisfied everybody.