Federal Government had closed-door meeting with representatives of organised labour last night. The meeting, called at the instance of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Babachir Lawal, was held to avert the proposed nationwide strike by Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and Trade Union Congress, TUC, scheduled for tomorrow.
In attendance at the meeting, which commenced at about 7:30 p.m. are NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomole, President of National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, Igwe Achese, President of Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, Olabode Johnson.
Others are Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, Trade Union Congress, TUC, President, Bobboi Bala Kiagama, NLC General Secretary, Peter Ozo-Eson, Ag General Secretary of TUC, Simeso Amachree among others. Oshiomhole had earlier met with the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, possibly to harmonise Federal Government’s position before they went for the closed door meeting.
But signs were palpable that the strike may not get the needed credence due to the division between the ranks of the labour movement. Even shortly before the meeting commenced, Wabba had maintained that he would not attend the parley with factional President of NLC, Joe Ajaero.
It took the intervention of the SGF to convince Ajaero to stay behind with the promise that a separate meeting would be held with his group. NUPENG and PENGASSAN two prominent unions within the oil industry had earlier endorsed the deregulation policy of the Federal Government which increased the price of fuel from N86.50 to N145 per litre
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