The Nigeria Labour Union (NLC), yesterday walked out from a meeting with the Nigerian Government, making a vow to go ahead with its scheduled nationwide strike on Wednesday (today).
Barely five minutes after the meeting started, the labour union walked out, where it was represented by Najeem Yasin, its Deputy President, Jomog News Nigeria reports.
Quadri Olaleye, the president of the Trade Union Congress, TUC, had told Channels Television that the hike in the price of fuel and electricity tariffs were top on the meeting agenda and not issues of palliatives.
He accused the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government of dishonesty and painting the organised labour in a bad light before the general public.
Olaleye said, “This meeting is not going to be as usual. Why, because we have seen the insincerity of the government and it’s putting us at risk. They are taking us for a ride, which cannot continue.
“We are in the process of discussing, for over three months now. And they made an announcement increasing the fuel price again. And no other person than NNPC. When has authority been given to NNPC to increase the price of PMS? This is unacceptable.
“The meeting agenda is not well prioritised. And because of that, we are leaving the meeting. We will not continue, we will go back to our organ, and we are going to get back to you on the next line of action.”
Chris Ngige, who is the Minister of Labour and Employment, represented the Federal Government alongside the Minister of State for Labour, Festus Keyamo, Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipre Sylva, Minister of state for power, Goddy Agba and the Secretary to the Government, Boss Mustapha.
