- As the penultimate phase of the planned nationwide strike approaches, the federal government has taken a new step to halt it.
- The federal government, commanded by the president’s chief of staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, resumed negotiations with organized labour.
- The meeting is ongoing as negotiations on a temporary solution to the removal of petroleum subsidies may be concluded today.
– FCT, Abuja The meeting of the Presidential Steering Committee on Palliatives, which was adjourned on Monday morning, July 31, has resumed at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Tuesday, August 1, to continue discussions.
As reported by The Nation, the committee, comprised of Federal Government and Organized Labour representatives, adjourned on Monday to allow members, particularly Labour leaders, to hear President Bola Tinubu’s media broadcast.
The government established the committee to evaluate the proposed recompenses for employees in light of the removal of the gasoline subsidy, which has caused hardship for many Nigerians.
Joe Ajaero, the President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), was absent when the meeting began, leaving the Labour side to be led by Festus Osifo, the President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), and Emma Ugbaja, the NLC Secretary.
FG hopes for an agreement with Labour
It is anticipated that the mass transit, CNG, and conditional cash transfer subcommittees will provide updates at the meeting, which will be held in the Conference Room of the Chief of Staff to the President.
It is also anticipated to consider the NLC’s planned protest on August 2nd.
Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; Permanent Secretary Ministry of Labour and Employment, Kachollom Daju; Special Adviser to the President on Energy, Olu Verheijen; Director of Budget, Ben Akubeze; and Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, Mele Kyari, among others, represent the government.
The meeting takes place twenty-four hours before the scheduled nationwide demonstration by Organized Labor.
As the Senate moves to end the NLC strike, Akpabio laments lawmakers’ low pay.
In the meantime, the Nigerian Senate is attempting to prevent the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) from going on strike.
The planned strike, according to Senator Abdulrahman Kawu Suleiman, would cripple the nation’s economy.
Kawu cautioned that the strike could inflame the political climate and that the potential gains could be significantly less than the cost of administering the conflict.
