NLC rejects new pump price by NNPCL

Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has rejected the new pump price of petrol fixed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPC).

The Federal Government and members of the organised Labour, comprising the Trade Union Congress and Nigeria Labour Congress have on Wednesday opened discussions on the issue of subsidy removal.

The meeting which held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, however, did not arrive at any resolutions, as it was adjourned to a later date.

The meeting had in attendance President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero and that of Trade Union Congress, Festus Osifo as well as the Group Managing Director of the NNPCL, Mele Kyari.

Speaking to newsmen after the meeting, Ajaero said that “as far as we are concerned there was no consensus.”

He said that the principle of negotiation was for the government and the NNPCL to revert to status, adding that, “you don’t ask to negotiate under gun point”.

On the demands of the organised labour, Ajaero said, “We should go back to status quo, negotiate, think of the alternatives and all the effects and how many of the effects this action will have on the people if it is an action that must take off.”

He said that the subsidy provision has been made up to the end of June and rhetorically asked, “why is it now. Last administration made it up to end of June. Why can’t we respect the sanctity of even that law that provided that expenditure up to June.”

On the claim by the Federal Government that there is no money to continue with the subsidy, Ajaero flanked by the President of the Trade Union Congress, TUC, Festus Osifo said, “what is the purpose of governance, is it the duty of NLC to raise funds for the government, collect tax, to sell crude at the international market when the price of crude is going high and the government that is a major importer of crude product is telling you there is no money.

“Other countries that are in the same scenario are eating fat.”