The meeting between the Federal government and organized labor over the planned strike against the recently increased pump price of petrol, ended in a deadlock yesterday night and will continue today May 17th.
At the meeting, Labor leaders insisted that the only way the planned strike action will be shelved is for the Federal government to review the minimum wage upwards, improve the palliatives to cushion the effects of the fuel price hike on Nigerians and reconstitution of the board of the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA). At the meeting, the Federal government delegation recognized the genuine request of the labor leaders for an increase in minimum wage but however stated that the timing for such an increase is wrong as the Federal government is presently grappling with financial crunch. Present at the meeting which lasted over 4 hours were Ayuba Wabba, President of NLC, Joe Ajaero, President of National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Igwe Achese, and President of Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), Olabode Johnson, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, President of the TUC, Bobboi Bala Kiagama, NLC General Secretary, Peter Ozo-Eson, and the acting General Secretary of Trade Union Congress, Mr. Simeso Amachree, among others. Others are the Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, and the Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly, Sen. Ita Enang, among others.