The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has revealed the details of the organised labour meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Worried by the heels of the ongoing nationwide protests that rocked the entire country, President Bola Tinubu personally met with leaders of NLC and TUC at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Wednesday in a bid to resolve the issues.
The labour unions had declared nationwide strike following the removal of subsidy which has inflicted hardships on Nigerians.
Speaking with Newsmen after meeting for the first time with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress ( NLC), Joe Ajaero disclosed that it has succeeded in securing “deeper commitments” from the federal government, in its efforts to attract palliatives to cushion the effect of the fuel subsidy removal.
He noted that the union will give federal governmen time to fulfil its promises.
Ajaero said the NLC leadership is going back to hold further consultations with the members of its National Executive Council, at their meeting which will be held on Thursday.
Ajaero stated that the congress met with the President on issues that led to the protest today.
“He expressed his position and made some commitment, which are taken side by side with what the Senate said at the National Assembly and we’re taking it back to the office with our colleagues to review it and release a document on our next line of action,” he said.
“He went deeper than what was in the broadcast, but there are one or two things that need immediate attention.
“The engagement was fruitful that immense mileage was gotten with regards to the issues that bogged down the work of the Presidential Committee on Subsidy removal and necessitated the protest viz:
“He committed to an immediate restructuring of the framework for engagement in line with the input of the Labour leaders. He let out a certainty that the Port Harcourt Refinery will commence production by December this year. He pledged to ensure that Agreement is reached on the Wage Award for Nigerian workers immediately.
“He promised to unveil a workable roadmap to the CNG alternative next week. On the strength of the President’s pledge and commitment, we have decided for a return to a new and reinvigorated dialogue process to allow for full implementation.
“Once again, we thank Nigerians while we wait for the government to fulfill its own part of the understanding as agreed with His Excellency; the President.”
Asked if they were now ready to end the protest, Ajaero said “No one person can call it off. That’s why I say we’ll have to go back to the office. So that they will look at it also before they come up with their final resolutions.
“And by tomorrow, at the National Executive Council meeting, we will look at the bigger picture”.
