NLC meets FG over petrol subsidy removal — after no-show on Sunday

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.

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.