Subsidy: FG, labour meeting ends in deadlock

Talks between the Federal Government and organised labour over the removal of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), otherwise known as petrol, on Wednesday, May 31, ended in a deadlock as they failed to reach a consensus.

The meeting held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja followed the hike in petrol pump price to N488 in Lagos and over N500 in other states by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).

According to the new template, petrol pump price has been adjusted to N537 in Abuja, N515 in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital; N537 in Lokoja, Kogi State; N550 in Yola, the Adamawa State capital; N557 in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital; N540 in Kano; N545 in Kebbi State; N500 in Ekiti State; and N488 in Lagos State.

Speaking to newsmen at the end of the meeting, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, said: “As far as labour is concerned, we didn’t have a consensus in this meeting.”

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Ajaero, who faulted the NNPCL over a statement reviewing the petrol pump price in its filling stations across, said the move has put the labour unions in a difficult position on the negational table.

The NLC President added: “That’s the principle of negotiation. You don’t put the partner, ask them to negotiate under gunpoint.

“The prayer of the NLC is that we go back to the status quo, negotiate, think of alternatives and all the effects and how to manage the effects this action is going to have on the people. If it is an action that must take off.

“The subsidy provision has been made up to the end of June. And before then, conscious people, labour management, and the government should be able to think of what will happen at the end of June. You don’t start it before the time.”

Others at the meeting were the President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Festus Osifo; former NLC President and immediate past governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole; Permanent Secretary, State House, Tijjani Umar; Head of Service of the Federation, Dr Folashade Yemi-Esan; and the Group Chief Executive Officer of the NNPCL, Mele Kyari; among others.

The Star