On Sunday, November 22 Representatives of the Labour union had a meeting with the Federal Governmnet over fuel price hike, and the representatives were reported to have walked out on the FG stating that they have seen the insincerity of the Government.
According to Quadri Olaleye, President of the Trade Union Congress, he said:
“Government is showing a high level of insincerity in discussions with us and is also putting us at risk with the people we are leading — with the masses. We find it difficult to move freely, but the people in government are moving freely.
“This meeting is not going to be as usual. Why, because we have seen the insincerity of government and it’s putting us at risk. They are taking us for a ride, which cannot continue.
“We are in the process of discussing, for over three months now. And they made announcement increasing the fuel price again. And no other person than NNPC. When has authority been giving to NNPC to increase the price of PMS? This is unacceptable.
“The meeting agenda is not well prioritised. And because of that, we are leaving the meeting. We will not continue, we will go back to our organ, and we are going to get back to you on the next line of action.”
While the Nigerian Labour Congress was represented by its deputy president Najeem Yasin, top officials who represented the federal government were the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, the Minister of State for Labour, Festus Keyamo, Minister of State for Petroleum, Timiprye Sylva, Minister of state for power, Goddy Agba and the Secretary to the Government, Boss Mustapha.
