NIGERIANS expectations of FG, Labour talks

The Federal Government, this evening will be meeting the leaders of the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC and Trade Union Congress, TUC, after a week-long nationwide strike over fuel prices.

What are your expectations or outcomes of this parley? Should the Federal Government reverse its decision on subsidy removal? Or should Labour agree to any reduction in price of fuel, less N141 per litre.

Do you have other suggestions on how to resolve the present impasse?

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Jonathan, Sambo,Okonjo-Iweala meet labour leaders

Labour leaders entered their first talks with Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday since a four-day-old nationwide strike began and after oil workers vowed to shut down crude production.

More than a dozen labour leaders entered talks with Jonathan, Vice President Namadi Sambo, Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Senate President David Mark and seven state governors.

They did not comment upon entering the meeting, which included the heads of the two major Nigerian labour confederations, the NLC and TUC.

The strike and protests this week have been over soaring fuel prices resulting from a government policy which ended fuel subsidies on January 1.

Oil workers vowed earlier in the day to begin shutting down production of Africa’s top crude exporter on Sunday, piling intense pressure on the government ahead of the talks.

While the strike this week has paralysed the country and brought hundreds of thousands of people out into the streets in protest, oil workers have so far not moved to halt production of crude — the country’s economic lifeblood.

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Outcome of FEC meeting: No going back on fuel subsidy removal

The Federal Executive Council on Wednesday said it would not rescind the removal of the subsidy on petroleum products.

Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, told newsmen at the end of the emergency FEC meeting at the Council Chambers of the State House, Abuja, that government was not unmindful of the pains being experienced by Nigerians, as a result of the action.

He said the Federal Government had commenced a ‘massive mass transit scheme’ to cushion the effect of the subsidy removal on transportation. Under the scheme, thousands of mass transit vehicles are to be distributed.

He was joined by the Minister of Trade and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga; and the Minister of Transport, Idris Umar.

The emergency meeting, which was chaired by President Goodluck Jonathan, began at 12. 15p.m and around 3.30pm.

Vice-President Namadi Sambo; Labour Minister, Emeka Wogu; and the Minister of National Planning, Shamsudeen Usman, were among those in attendance.

Absent from the meeting were Finance Minister, Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; and Petroleum Minister, Mrs. Dieziani Alison-Madueke.

FEC last met on December 21 and adjourned till January 11.

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