Fuel Price Hike: FG, Labour Adjourned Talks till Dec 7

The federal government and organised labour have resolved to
allow one week for consultation over the demand for the reversal of
the pump price of petrol.

The government side is to use the one week to consult with its
principals including President Muhammadu Buhari on a possible
review of the fuel price increase.

The price of petrol was jacked up from N161 per litre to N168
per litre, the second time in less than three months.

However, organised labour is kicking against the price hike
which they considered unwarranted and a big slap on their coming
mid-way into their negotiations with government’ on how to cushion
for economic difficulties brought by the earlier increase.

The labour leaders, who felt ambushed by the federal
government’s action, staged a walkout at the resumed negotiations
last Sunday, insisting on reversal of the fuel price increase
before talks could continue.

At the rescheduled meeting with representatives of labour on
Thursday night, both sides agreed to give one week grace period to
enable the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) go and
reconsider issues that led to the increase.

A source at the closed-door meeting said that labour insisted
that the pump price of petrol must be reversed to what it was as at
September 28, this year.

“After efforts to see if discussions on other issues can go on
failed, the Group Managing Director of the NNPC also tried to make
presentations but was rebuffed by labour. The meeting then resolved
that the NNPC GMD be allowed to go back to his principals to
consult and come back to brief the meeting after one week,” he
said.

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige,
confirmed this while briefing the media after a meeting between the
government side and the organised labour, held Thursday night at
the State House Banquet Hall in Abuja.

In a statement issued by his Media Office, Ngige said that the
message of the labour side at the meeting was very clear that they
want the reversal of the recent fuel price increase.

According to the minister, the meeting agreed to adjourn for one
week to let the government side do all the needed consultations on
the matter.
“By Monday, December 7, we will come back, because the message from
the organised labour is clear. They want a reversal of the pump
price to what it was. So, the government side will take it back to
our principals.

“Even though, government is not fixing the price of PMS anymore
because it is deregulated, it is part of the economy. So, the
government side will consult anybody that needs to be
consulted.

“We will consult the president as the Minister of Petroleum and
then, the Economic Management team because funds are involved,” he
said.

On the issue of electricity tariff, Ngige said: “Everybody is
happy with the situation in the electricity industry for now,
because there is a committee working on it, headed by Minister of
State for Labour and Employment.”

He said the committee already has an interim report and will
avail itself of the opportunity next week to pay field visits to
the different distribution companies (DISCOS) in Nigeria and then
come back with a more comprehensive report within the time
available.

Earlier, the President of Trade Union Congress (TUC), Quari
Olaleye, told journalists that the organised labour wants
government to reverse the last fuel price increase, which occurred
while the two sides were already on the negotiation table.

Olaleye said the Group Managing Director of NNPC, Mele Kyari,
requested during the meeting for one week to do consultations with
his principals and the organised labour acceded to his request.

The Deputy National President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC),
Joe Ajero, stood in for the President, Ayuba Wabba, who was
unavoidably absent.

In a welcome speech during the meeting, the Secretary to Federal
Government (SGF), Boss Mustafa, thanked the organised labour for
putting the nation first.

Mustapha praised the labour leadership for working very hard to
see that the welfare of their members and the Nigerian people was
catered for.

He assured the organised labour of government’s preparedness to
work hand in hand with them to ensure that resolutions were reached
at the meeting on any issue that borders on the welfare of
Nigerians.

He expressed the belief that negotiations would be done in the
overarching interest of the people of Nigeria as the centre
piece.

The SGF thanked the organised labour for their display of
patriotism when they went for their last recess on the request of
the labour leadership.

He said whatever went out from the last meeting, the government
side maintained in their reportage that there was no breakdown of
talks between the government and labour.

Mustapha said he believed that all the parties must have
consulted sufficiently before coming back for them to reach certain
conclusions on the issues being discussed that will further advance
the cause and the good of Nigerians.

Others from the government side at the meeting included the
Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Hajia
Sadiya Farouk; Minister of State, Labour and Employment, Festus
Keyamo; Minister of State (Power), Jeddy Agba; and Minister of
State (Petroleum), Timipriye Sylva.

The GMD of NNPC, Mele Kyari; the Chairman/CEO, National
Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Prof. James Momoh; and
representative of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) also participated
in the meeting.

The federal government and organised labour have resolved to
allow one week for consultation over the demand for the reversal of
the pump price of petrol.

The government side is to use the one week to consult with its
principals including President Muhammadu Buhari on a possible
review of the fuel price increase.

The price of petrol was jacked up from N161 per litre to N168
per litre, the second time in less than three months.

However, organised labour is kicking against the price hike
which they considered unwarranted and a big slap on their coming
mid-way into their negotiations with government’ on how to cushion
for economic difficulties brought by the earlier increase.

The labour leaders, who felt ambushed by the federal
government’s action, staged a walkout at the resumed negotiations
last Sunday, insisting on reversal of the fuel price increase
before talks could continue.

At the rescheduled meeting with representatives of labour on
Thursday night, both sides agreed to give one week grace period to
enable the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) go and
reconsider issues that led to the increase.

A source at the closed-door meeting said that labour insisted
that the pump price of petrol must be reversed to what it was as at
September 28, this year.

“After efforts to see if discussions on other issues can go on
failed, the Group Managing Director of the NNPC also tried to make
presentations but was rebuffed by labour. The meeting then resolved
that the NNPC GMD be allowed to go back to his principals to
consult and come back to brief the meeting after one week,” he
said.

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige,
confirmed this while briefing the media after a meeting between the
government side and the organised labour, held Thursday night at
the State House Banquet Hall in Abuja.

In a statement issued by his Media Office, Ngige said that the
message of the labour side at the meeting was very clear that they
want the reversal of the recent fuel price increase.

According to the minister, the meeting agreed to adjourn for one
week to let the government side do all the needed consultations on
the matter.
“By Monday, December 7, we will come back, because the message from
the organised labour is clear. They want a reversal of the pump
price to what it was. So, the government side will take it back to
our principals.

“Even though, government is not fixing the price of PMS anymore
because it is deregulated, it is part of the economy. So, the
government side will consult anybody that needs to be
consulted.

“We will consult the president as the Minister of Petroleum and
then, the Economic Management team because funds are involved,” he
said.

On the issue of electricity tariff, Ngige said: “Everybody is
happy with the situation in the electricity industry for now,
because there is a committee working on it, headed by Minister of
State for Labour and Employment.”

He said the committee already has an interim report and will
avail itself of the opportunity next week to pay field visits to
the different distribution companies (DISCOS) in Nigeria and then
come back with a more comprehensive report within the time
available.

Earlier, the President of Trade Union Congress (TUC), Quari
Olaleye, told journalists that the organised labour wants
government to reverse the last fuel price increase, which occurred
while the two sides were already on the negotiation table.

Olaleye said the Group Managing Director of NNPC, Mele Kyari,
requested during the meeting for one week to do consultations with
his principals and the organised labour acceded to his request.

The Deputy National President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC),
Joe Ajero, stood in for the President, Ayuba Wabba, who was
unavoidably absent.

In a welcome speech during the meeting, the Secretary to Federal
Government (SGF), Boss Mustafa, thanked the organised labour for
putting the nation first.

Mustapha praised the labour leadership for working very hard to
see that the welfare of their members and the Nigerian people was
catered for.

He assured the organised labour of government’s preparedness to
work hand in hand with them to ensure that resolutions were reached
at the meeting on any issue that borders on the welfare of
Nigerians.

He expressed the belief that negotiations would be done in the
overarching interest of the people of Nigeria as the centre
piece.

The SGF thanked the organised labour for their display of
patriotism when they went for their last recess on the request of
the labour leadership.

He said whatever went out from the last meeting, the government
side maintained in their reportage that there was no breakdown of
talks between the government and labour.

Mustapha said he believed that all the parties must have
consulted sufficiently before coming back for them to reach certain
conclusions on the issues being discussed that will further advance
the cause and the good of Nigerians.

Others from the government side at the meeting included the
Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Hajia
Sadiya Farouk; Minister of State, Labour and Employment, Festus
Keyamo; Minister of State (Power), Jeddy Agba; and Minister of
State (Petroleum), Timipriye Sylva.

The GMD of NNPC, Mele Kyari; the Chairman/CEO, National
Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Prof. James Momoh; and
representative of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) also participated
in the meeting.