Labour Reps Walk Out On FG As Meeting Over Fuel Price Hike Ends In Disarray

Representatives of Labour unions, on Sunday, walked out of a meeting with the Federal Government over hike in pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).

The Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC) had increased the ex-depot price of petrol from N147.67 to N155.15 per litre as stated in a memo dated November 11, 2020 which took effect two days later. Following the increase, the product now sells between N165 and N170 per litre.

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The meeting, which was held in Abuja began by 8pm and was a run-on to meetings held previously on the increase in fuel price and electricity tariff.

Reports gathered reveal that the meeting lasted for about 15 minutes as labour leaders accused the government of insincerity.

Among those present at the meeting were Najeem Yasin, deputy president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and Quadri Olaleye, president of the Trade Union Congress (TUC).

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The TUC president highlighted on the recent increase in fuel pump price and expressed his disappointment that discussions were ongoing from the previous meeting before the fresh hike.

Olaleye who spoke expansively said, “Government is showing a high level of insincerity in discussions with us and is also putting us at risk with the people we are leading — with the masses. We find it difficult to move freely, but the people in government are moving freely”, he said.

The minister of labour and employment, Chris Nigige was also present at the meeting alongside Festus Keyamo, minister of state for labour; Timipre Sylva, minister of state for petroleum, and Boss Mustapha, secretary to the government of the federation.

It is recalled that the NLC had released a statement last week Monday expressing it’s concern about the increase and insisted that it is “against the spirit and content of what organised labour agreed with government at the last negotiations over the last fuel price increase”.