Representatives of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) have staged a dramatic walkout during a meeting with the Presidential Steering Committee on Subsidy Palliatives at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja.
President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero, led his delegation to the Chief of Staff’s office, the venue of the meeting, at approximately 5 pm but left the villa shortly after.
The previous agreement
The previous meeting between the Steering Committee and government representatives on Wednesday resulted in an agreement to reconvene on Friday to receive updates from the three subcommittees assigned to address various demands.
The Steering Committee was established by the government to implement palliatives to cushion the impact of fuel subsidy removal on workers.
Pretense to deceive Nigerians
However, Friday’s meeting was unable to proceed as some members of the Steering Committee reported a lack of quorum.
The labour unions expressed frustration, accusing the federal government of using the meetings as a pretense to deceive Nigerians.
According to an anonymous member of the committee representing organised labour, “They are not prepared for the meeting. That’s the truth… They are using cover to deceive Nigerians.”
How Delegations were not denied entrance
The representatives from the labour unions were delayed upon entering the State House due to clearance issues as the names of the delegation members were not sent to the gate early enough for processing.
Though Femi Gbajabiamila, the Chief of Staff to the President, waited for the labour delegation, he later excused himself to attend other official matters while the rest of the government team continued to wait for their arrival.
This incident comes amidst growing tensions over the recent hike in petrol prices, and the National Executive Council of the NLC has already endorsed a nationwide strike and mass protests scheduled to commence from August 2.
The government has informed the NLC that it is legally restrained from embarking on the planned strike.
A statement from the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, B. E. Jedy-Agba, stated that the union had been ordered by the National Industrial Court not to proceed with any strike related to the removal of petrol subsidy.
What NLC is saying
Despite the court order, the NLC remains firm in its stance, demanding the immediate reversal of all anti-poor policies of the Federal Government and calling for active measures to protect Nigerians.
They have given the Federal Government a seven-day ultimatum to meet their demands before they embark on the nationwide action.
