Subsidy Removal: Labour Walks Out Of Meeting With Government

The resumed meeting of the Presidential Steering Committee on Subsidy Palliatives which was scheduled to hold yesterday ended badly as the Labour team walked out over alleged lack of readiness of government’s team.

It would be recalled that the committee had at the end of it last meeting which was held this last Wednesday, also at the Presidential Villa, agreed to meet again two days later to receive briefings from three subcommittees.

The Nigerian Labour Congress’ (NLC) delegation, led by its President, Joe Ajaero, arrived the Chief of Staff’s Conference Room at about 5pm, but had to leave soon into the proceedings of the meeting, citing the absence of those to to brief.

The Labour team accused the federal government of using the meetings as a pretext to deceive Nigerians, claiming that government officials,who are members the subcommittees were nowhere to be found.

Three subcommittees, the Mass Transit, the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and Cash transfer subcommittees, were supposed to be present to brief the Steering Committee on the measures put in place to cushion the effect of the fuel subsidy removal on the workers.

A member of the Labour team, who spoke in confidence to journalists said government was not prepared for the meeting, adding that they (government’s representatives) were insisting the meeting should proceed even though no quorum was formed.

“They are not prepared for the meeting. That’s the truth. They are using cover to deceive Nigerians. There are supposed to be three subcommittees, mass transit subcommittee, the CNG, and the cash transfer, to brief us, the steering committee but government was not prepared for the meeting.

“In their introductory remarks they made excuses and they wanted the meeting to continue, the meeting did not form a quorum. We are a people that operate on the basis of process. So, if there’s no quorum in a meeting what do you do? You will adjourn for lack of quorum.

“There was nobody to meet with. The Chief of Staff was not there, they are taking us like small children”, the source said.

However, it was gathered that the Chief of Staff, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, had earlier waited for the labour delegation with other members of the team at his Conference Hall.

He latter stepped out to attend to other official matters within the Villa while other members of the government team were waiting for the organised labour to arrive

It was gathered that the organised labour delegation from the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC and the Trade Union Congress, TUC, was delayed at the State House entrance gate otherwise known as Mopol gate for clearance.

Information has it that the names of the labour delegation were not sent to the gate for clearance which led to their delay for the meeting.

In fact, one of the leaders of the labour delegation had told journalists, “We were detained at the gate.”

The botched meeting would have been the fourth on the series of meetings they have held since the implementation of the petroleum subsidy removal.

It was the continuation of the previous meetings over the initial increase of the pump price of petroleum to N520 per litre.

The organized labour has already scheduled a nationwide protest for August 2 to press home their demands over the petroleum subsidy removal.