…as NLC Leaders Promises to resume talks with FG
BY ODILI CHRISTEL
As a result of the recently announced removal of subsidy on Wednesday May 11, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC)
embarked on an industrial strike on Wednesday 18 2016 to showcase its disapproval for the hike in fuel price. In the light of this theNational Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has appealed to the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to call off the ongoing strike over the hike in fuel pump price.
Tinubu who spoke at a meeting with the leadership of the NLC promised to lead the NLC delegation to the government with a view to addressing the contending issues that led to the strike.
He told the NLC leadership that organized labour are not the enemies of the Buhari government and will never be the enemy of government.
“I have come to appeal to you to suspend the action you have embarked upon and return to the negotiating table,” Tinubu pleaded.
Tinubu who was in company with Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola, Senators Marafa, Humkunyi Suleiman and others said his mission to the Labour House was to appeal for peace once again.
Earlier, he had urged Nigerians not to lament over the removal of fuel subsidy saying the Buhari led administration has made provisions to cushion the impact of fuel price hike.
He said though the government had yielded to the call to allow the forces of demand and supply to determine the price of petrol, it had no intention to completely hands off the process as it intends to keep a close watch on how prices are determined to prevent unjust enrichment and collusion to hike prices unnecessarily.
In a move designed clearly to massage the ego of the labour leaders, since the strike was largely ignored in many parts of Nigeria, Tinubu urged Labour to employ anger management in resolving the disagreement over the fuel price increase.
Tinubu explained the reason for the fuel price increase and said it was done in the best interest of Nigeria as it would allow investors to come into Nigeria to build refineries.
He contrasted the policy to the step taken by former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2012, when he set up SURE-P in 2012. The APC leader said what was sure of the SURE-P was corruption.
He said the Buhari administration would not follow the same path. He urged labour leaders to repose trust in the Buhari administration as it is one of integrity and honesty.
“This President is genuine. This decision was the only one left. Buhari has integrity and a character that is reliable”, Tinubu said.
In a response, Ayuba thanked the Tinubu for his intervention and promised to take the appeal to the affiliates of the NLC. He said the NLC was not opposed to negotiation with government
Among the Labour leaders present at the meeting were Wabba, the Deputy Presidents of the Congress, Peters Adeyemi, NojeemYarsin, the Chairman of the Labour and Civil Society Coalition, Prof. DipoFashina and a former Vice President of the congress, IsahAremu .