By Goodluck Ikiebe in Abuja.
Representatives of the federal government at the meeting on Wednesday in Abuja.
The meeting between the Federal Government and the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) over fuel subsidy removal has ended without a consensus.
Our correspondent reports that the meeting began around 4 p.m. on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa. representatives of the Federal Government, including Dele Alake, the spokesperson for President Bola Tinubu; and the Group CEO of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPCL) Limited, Mele Kyari in attendance.
Other government officials present were the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele; former Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole.
The Organised Labour was represented by the NLC National President, Joe Ajaero; and the President of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), Festus Osifo.
After several hours of meeting with the Federal Government, the NLC demanded that the Federal Government return to the status quo by reversing the price of fuel before resuming negotiations with the NLC.
The National President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, who criticized the removal of subsidy stated that the status quo returns before any formal engagement with the NLC, to protect the Nigerian workforce and proffer additional solutions.
The NLC insisted that the Federal Government did not enter into any conversation, even on palliative measures for Nigerians, hence the rejection of the latest announcement.
The union said it had decided to reconvene with its members to determine the next line of action.
Conversely, Alake described the meeting as robust, adding that talks would continue. He expressed hope that the parties would reach a reasonable conclusion at its next adjourned meeting.
The Reporters recalls that on Monday during his inaugural speech at the Eagle Square in Abuja, President Bola Tinubu said the era of subsidy payment on fuel had ended, adding that with the 2023 budget making no provision for fuel subsidy, further payment was no longer justifiable.
“The fuel subsidy is gone,” Tinubu said, adding that his government would instead channel the funds into infrastructure and other areas to strengthen the economy.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and the House Of Representatives have since backed Tinubu’s decision.
However, the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) argued that the President could not unilaterally decide on subsidy removal, saying that there was a reason the immediate past administration of Muhammadu Buhari pushed the “sensitive issue” to the new government.
Reports from our correspondents in many parts of the country on Wednesday indicate that long queues of vehicles have disappeared from filling stations with some of these structures, though having fuel,have since resurfaced across the country since the presidential pronouncement as Nigerians forage for premium were almost deserted as few motorists were seen buying fuel, citing the high cost of the product.
This was the picture our correspondent in lokoja got when he visited some filling stations in the area on Wednesday.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
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