In a meeting held at the Presidential Villa on Wednesday evening, discussions between the Federal Government and organised labour failed to reach a consensus, leading to a deadlock.
The objective of the hours-long meeting was to avert a potential labour crisis stemming from the recent hike in petrol pump prices, caused by the discontinuation of petroleum subsidies.
Joe Ajaero, the President of the Nigerian Labour Congress, expressed dissatisfaction with the outcome of the meeting, stating, “As far as labour is concerned, we didn’t have a consensus in this meeting.”
Ajaero criticized the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited for issuing an official release just hours before the meeting, which revised the petrol pump prices at its filling stations nationwide.
This action placed the labour unions in a difficult position during negotiations.
Ajaero emphasized the importance of fair negotiation, stating, “That’s the principle of negotiation. You don’t put the partner in a position of negotiating under duress.”
He urged a return to the status quo, with further negotiations and exploration of alternatives, as well as a thorough assessment of the impact that this action will have on the people.
Regarding the ongoing negotiations, Dele Alake, speaking on behalf of the Federal Government, confirmed that discussions are still in progress.
The parties involved plan to reconvene at a later date, which has yet to be determined.
