Fuel subsidy palaver : No Deal – Labour says strike continues on Monday as no compromise has been reached with FG

The President, Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar, who spoke to newsmen after the meeting last night, said they “have not reached a compromise,” noting that “the status quo remains.”   He insisted that the only compromise the labour was ready to accept was the reversal of the petrol price to N65 per litre. […]

The President, Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar, who spoke to newsmen after the meeting last night, said they “have not reached a compromise,” noting that “the status quo remains.”

 

He insisted that the only compromise the labour was ready to accept was the reversal of the petrol price to N65 per litre.

He said, “We are going to continue our deliberation at our organisation level and then maybe we will see the way forward.

“The meeting is not deadlocked, but we have not reached a compromise. Like we said the other time, it means the status quo remains.”

Asked what compromise labour wanted? He said: “Let’s go back to N65, then we agree on a new line of action. For now, we are insisting on N65.”

Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Anyim Pius Anyim led the Federal Government’s team while President, Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar and Secretary General of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) Peter Esele led the 18-man labour negotiating team to the meeting.

Also present at the meeting were Senate President David Mark and House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal.

The removal of fuel subsidy on January 1 had triggered a nationwide strike by labour which crippled economic and business activities in most commercial centres across the country, while lives and properties were also lost in the protests.

The two groups met last Thursday night where both sides shifted ground and began working on a deal to peg petrol price at about N100.

Top officials of labour had at the end of the serial rallies last Friday announced a break for Saturday and Sunday to enable the masses rest as well as get more food and other necessities that will last them during the next round of strike billed for Monday.

State governors at the meeting were Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Aliyu Magatakarda Wammako (Sokoto),  Liyel Imoke (Cross River), Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Peter Obi (Anambra), Adams Oshiomhole (Edo), Theodore Orji (Abia), Babatunde Fashola  (Lagos), Babangida Aliyu (Niger) and Gabriel Suswam (Benue).

Also present were Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha, Senate leader Victor Ndoma-Egba, Senator Abdul Ningi, National Security Adviser (NSA) Andrew Azazi, Ministers of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo- Iweala, Justice, Bello Adoke; Labour, Emeka Wogu; Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga; Petroleum Diezani Alison-Madueke; FCT,  Bala Mohammed; Minister of State for Health, Mohammed Ali Pate; Information Minister Labaran Maku, also attended the meeting

At the weekend, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Coordinating Minister for the economy, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the Federal government was committed to the peaceful resolution of the Labour strike over the removal of fuel subsidy. Okonjo-Iweala had said the major objective was to ensure that Nigerians get back to work.

“I’m being positive that the right atmosphere exists for good conclusion to come about from the ongoing dialogue; the labour people and people in government are Nigerians.” She said that both the NLC and the Federal Government had one common objective, “that is for the nation to move forward.

“We understand how the people are feeling; the children need to go back to school, and the people need to go back to their businesses and market. “We really are prepared and trying to get to a situation where this can happen,” she said.

Okonjo-Iweala said she was confident that the government and labour would agree at a point on the appropriate pump price for fuel.

She said President Goodluck Jonathan was flexible, adding “is someone who wants to make sure that the current situation is resolved so that Nigerians can go back to work”. But Nigerians are waiting.