Why our talks with FG failed — Labour

President ,Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC),Omar Abdulwaheed (middle) addressing protesters on the outcome of the meeting with the President on the fuel subsidy in Abuja yesterday. Photo by Gbemiga Olamikan.

A joint statement by the Acting General Secretary of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC and General Secretary of Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, Comrade Owei Lakemfa and Chief John Kolawole also categorically dissociated organised labour from any plot to change the present regime in the country through the mass action spearheaded by it and assured that whenever the government was ready and called labour for further meeting, it would attend without conditions.
The statement read in part: ”Labour’s analysis of the situation is that tension is very high in the land following the fuel price increase, the resultant strikes, rallies and street protests and the human causalties that have followed. And that a suspension of the new petrol prices will reduce tension and return the country to normalcy. We decided to make a plea to President Goodluck Jonathan in the overriding interest of the country to suspend the PMS (petrol) price increases and direct that talks between government and Labour be concluded on the petroleum industry especially at it affects fuel subsidy and pricing within a short time frame.
“We made a pledge that once the price increase suspension is announced, Labour and its allies will immediately suspend the strikes, rallies and street protests. The summary of Labour’s position at the meeting was that talks and consultations were on-going before government aborted them by announcing the 120-220 per cent increase in the price of petrol, and that it is necessary to return to the status quo in order to douse tension, return the country to normalcy and allow for a conducive atmosphere for consultations and talks. However, Government’s only offer was to reduce the new prices while declining to allow a phased price increase. We think that the government position will not return the country to normalcy. The Labour Movement pledges that whenever and wherever government invites us for talks, we shall be there without any conditionality.”

Source: Vanguard