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Representatives from the Federal Government and Labour leaders are set to resume discussions today regarding the removal of petrol subsidies and the implementation of palliatives.
This confirmation comes after a temporary halt in negotiations, and both parties aim to harmonize the demands put forth by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).
The meeting is scheduled to reconvene at the Presidential Villa in Abuja at 4 pm, as announced by Kachallom Daju, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment. When contacted, Daju confirmed the meeting, stating, “Yes, the meeting will hold on Monday (today) at the Presidential Villa by 4 pm.”
The issue of petrol subsidy removal gained prominence on June 5 when the organized Labour announced the suspension of its planned strike in response to the Federal Government’s removal of subsidies on petroleum. The strike notice was served by the NLC a day after President Bola Tinubu declared, during his inauguration address, that “fuel subsidy is gone.”
Following the President’s speech, petrol marketers swiftly increased the pump price at filling stations, causing public outcry. In response, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) released a price template for petrol at its outlet stations.
To avert the impending strike, the government extended an invitation to Labour leaders for dialogue on finding a way forward. During negotiations, the Labour center presented several demands aimed at mitigating the impact of the pump price increase. One of the key demands was an increase in the minimum wage for workers to N200,000.
In light of these demands, the government’s negotiating team expressed willingness to consider the proposals put forward by organized Labour. Consequently, both sides reached an agreement to resume talks on these demands during the current week.