NLC meets FG over petrol subsidy removal

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the representatives of the federal government team are currently meeting over the fallout of the petrol subsidy removal.

Joe Ajaero, president of the NLC, and his team arrived at the presidential villa at about 5:45pm on Monday.

The NLC was absent at the meeting between the government representatives and organised labour on Sunday.

Representatives of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) were however in attendance.

Shortly after the commencement of Monday’s sit-down, TheCable reported that the national industrial court had restrained TUC and NLC from embarking on the industrial action.

During his inauguration speech on May 29, President Bola Tinubu declared that “petrol subsidy is gone”.

The president’s pronouncement immediately led to a resurfacing of queues at petrol stations and a hike in the pump price of the product across the country.

Organised labour had subsequently met with the government team but the sit-down ended in deadlock and was rescheduled for Sunday.

The labour unions are insisting that the new price template from the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) should be reverted to the old pump price before there will be any meaningful negotiation.

Federal government representatives at the last meeting included Dele Alake, spokesperson for the government’s delegation; group CEO of NNPCL Mele Kyari; governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Godwin Emefiele; and Adams Oshiomhole, former governor of Edo state.

George Akume, secretary to the government of the federation (SGF); Zacch Adedeji, executive secretary of the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC); and Yemi Adetunji, executive vice president, downstream, of the NNPCL, were also in attendance.

Photo credit: Channels Television