August 02, (THEWILL) – The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, said nothing has changed in it’s meetings with the federal government and so it was going ahead with the nationwide strike planned for August 2.
This followed the Tuesday meeting over the recent hike in petrol price and delayed implementation of palliative measures to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal, held at the Conference Hall of the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila.
The NLC team was led by its General Secretary, Comrade Emma Ugbaja, while the TUC was led by its President, Festus Osifo.
Representative of the government comprised Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Kachollom Daju; Special Adviser to the President on Energy, Olu Verheijen; Director, Budget, Ben Akubeze; Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, among others.
In a statement signed on Tuesday after the meeting, the NLC president, Joe Ajaero said the was no indication that government would heed the demands of organised labour through fruitful deliberations.
The demands, according to Ajaero include immediate reversal of all anti- poor policies of government including the recent hike in pump price of petrol, school fees and VAT; fixing local refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna; release eight months withheld salaries of university lecturers and workers and accord appropriate recognition and support to the presidential steering committees and sub- committee.
“We want to inform Nigerians that we have just risen from a meeting with the Federal Government where we sought to get them listen to the demands of the people and workers of Nigeria, said Ajaero in the statement on Tuesday.
“The meeting earlier today has not changed anything or the course which we have set for ourselves tomorrow as custodians of the interests and desires of Nigeria workers and people. Once again the nationwide mass protest will start tomorrow.”
