The Federal Government/Labour talk on how to mitigate the effect of subsidy removal ended in deadlock yesterday.
Government and the Nigerian Labour Congress(NLC) failed to reach a compromise on post-subsidy removal palliatives for workers.
But they agreed to resume negotiations on the demands by the organised labour on Thursday.
A 21-day ultimatum given by the NLC to the government to either meet the demands or face an indefinite strike expires at midnight of that day(Thursday).
NLC PresidentJoe Ajaero and Minister of Labour and Employment Simon Lalong described yesterday’s meeting as “fruitful and very robust.”
Labour which had last week embarked on a two-day warning strike, wants the government to, among others, institute wage awards for public sector workers, pay allowances and exempt them from tax payments.
Other demands include provision of Compressed Natural Gas buses, release of modalities for the N70bn for Small and Medium Enterprises, release of officials of the National Union of Road Transport Workers(NURTW) by the police, resolution of Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) crisis in Lagos.
It also seeks immediate reversal of all anti-poor policies of the government such as the recent hike in petrol price, increase in public school fees, release of the eight months withheld salaries of university teachers and workers as well as the increase in Value Added Tax (VAT).
Ajaero told reporters after the meeting convened by Lalong that labour was ready to meet the government team any time to continue the talks.
He flayed the Police for plotting a “coup” in NURTW, saying labour would not compromise on that.
The labour leader said: “ We had a fruitful deliberation and we have agreed to continue to make sure we arrive at a meaningful agreement within the remaining days of the ultimatum.
“We discussed frankly the issue bordering the coup floated and executed by the Nigeria Police against NURTW which has led to the detention of their democratically elected national officers. Both parties agreed to show concern towards the resolution of the matter.
“It is one sore area that the trade union movement in Nigeria is not ready to compromise.
“Whether a coup in the trade union movement or in the polity, it must be condemned; whether it is in Niger Republic, Congo or Mali or in the trade union movement in Nigeria.
“On the other issues, you can see that there was no agreement or implementation on any. There is no CNG anywhere. Refineries are not working. No agreement on wage awards. Those are the issues we believe that something will happen before the ultimatum expires. It is possible that something will happen.
“We had a convivial deliberation with the minister and we hope that even if it is remaining one day, we will get to the root of all these problems. “Whenever we are invited, we will be there. Both parties will work towards the realisation of these objectives before the last minute of the ultimatum.
“There is a larger committee that has set up technical committees. The ministry has performed its role to mediate and conciliate the problem between us and the government. There is an inter-ministerial committee at the Presidency level which is supposed to address these issues.
“The Ministry of Labour can’t address wage awards, the issue of CNG, refineries and others. The ministry has mediated to ensure that there is no problem or get both parties to resolve these issues.
“We are ready to engage the government whether in the night or day; we are ready to engage but not at gunpoint.”
Before the meeting went into a closed-door session, Ajaero explained that the September 5 and 6 warning strike by labour was a “product of frustration caused by the economic situation in the country.”
He lamented that “none of the demands put before the Federal Government had been addressed..”
The NLC leader expressed worry over the lack of trust between the government and the union in the negotiation process.
Ajaero said: “We came with mixed feelings about whether it will work or not because we have had many meetings, some beyond this level, yet nothing seems to be coming out of it. But I have great optimism in the Nigerian project; we can’t stop trying. We are here with the belief that something may happen. But that doubt, that trust gap is what we feared for a long time now and it calls for lamentation.
“The strike is an effect of a policy that doesn’t have a human face. There was no strike before the removal of the fuel subsidy. It was the government that told us to ask for palliatives and increased wages. We have asked for them and nothing is happening. That warning strike was a product of frustration.
“We must work together to ensure that we don’t keep on dragging these issues. It is the Nigerian people that are being affected, they are the people that are suffering. We have a lot of demands that we have put on paper for the government. There is the issue of CNG, refineries working, wage awards and cash transfers. Of all these agreements, not even one has been addressed by the government and you want us to meet every day.
“Some of us have been around for a long time and our job is not to go on strike but when you enter into an agreement that agreement should be implemented. Before the warning strike, we raised the issues of palliatives and wage awards and the NURTW.
“Nobody earning N30,000 or N60,000 will buy fuel for one week. We need to find solutions to all these problems and we have articulated them. Each time we finish, they (government) ask for time. They asked for eight weeks we gave them. They asked for four weeks and we gave them. We don’t know what to tell our colleagues or members again. “
Lalong, who also briefed reporters, thanked the labour leaders for attending the meeting.
His words:”Our meeting was very robust. It was a fruitful meeting. Many of the items presented by Labour are still under consideration before the final agreement or discussions.
“It was a fruitful meeting and we thank them for their very useful contributions.”
Lalong assured the labour leaders that the government was committed to addressing all the issues that led to the warning strike.
The minister, however, said the government must strike a balance that promotes economic growth and secures sustainable progress.
His words: “In recent months, our country has witnessed teething challenges, marked by industrial actions and unrest that have adversely affected the economy.
“I appear before you today(yesterday) not just as a representative of the government, but as an advocate for constructive dialogue, aspiring to understand your concerns and working hand in hand to find lasting solutions that benefit all Nigerians.
“I fully acknowledge and appreciate the invaluable role the NLC plays in championing the rights and welfare of our workers. We acknowledge the valid grievances that have fueled the recent labour crisis and we are committed to addressing them in a just and equitable manner.”