Fuel, electricity tariff hike: Why we rescheduled meeting with organized labour ― FG

 

 

Why we rescheduled meeting with organized labour ― FG Why we reschedule meeting with organized labour ― FGDr. Chris Ngige, the Minister of Labour and Employment

THE federal Saturday said that it had to reschedule the meeting earlier planned to carry on Saturday with the organized labour because the leaderships of the 2 Labour centres had engagement outside Abuja.

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige announced that the meeting has been rescheduled to carry on Tuesday.

A statement issued by the Minister through the Deputy Director, Press within the Ministry, Charles Akpan, read, “The meeting has been rescheduled to Tuesday, 15th Sept at 10am. Venue is Banquet Hall of Presidential Villa. this is often to accommodate all participants.”

President Muhammadu Buhari had on Friday after meeting with Senator Ngige, gave the approval for the relevant government agencies responsible of finance to satisfy with the labour to present the book on the nation’s economy.

Some Labour Unions including the union Congress, TUC, had condemned the recent increase within the petroleum pump price occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy and therefore the electricity tarrif hike and had involved a reversal with immediate effect.

It was reliably gathered that the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, was making consultations with its relevant organs over the increases.

Besides, some unions had threatened to start strike over the lack of the govt to stay to agreement it entered with them.

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Speaking to journalists after meeting with the President, Senator Ngige said, “The President has approved for us to possess a much bigger government side meeting with the organized private labour; all the govt institutions that need to do with the finances of state in order that we meet with them and show them the books.

“So, the invitation goes bent them this afternoon (Friday), the Nigeria Labour Congress, the union Congress and their affiliates or supporters and friends within the Civil Society Organisations. The meeting is scheduled for tomorrow, so, i will be able to relate more with the Chief of Staff to the President and therefore the leadership of the unions today in order that we do that meeting tomorrow.

“At the meeting, government finances, challenges and everything are going to be laid bare on the table. Their own fears and what they think is additionally good for the Nigerian people especially the workers, they're going to also table it in order that we glance at it.”

He said that the recent hike in electricity tariff was done by the regulatory body supported certain realities confronting the world .

He said: “The electricity tariff as you recognize , the Electricity Regulatory Commission approved the rise supported certain electricity band R1 and R2 and even within the R2 band, you've got soft bands in order that we will protect the agricultural poor and other people who are within the suburbs.

“So, we are getting to check out them holistically because we would like a stable labour vertical union within the country therefore the President has been briefed and he's in tune and has given the support to speak to everybody we'd like to speak to.”

The leadership of the NLC, said that members couldn't attend the meeting because information from the govt on Friday was impromptu.

Deputy President of NLC, Comrade Joe Ajaero said that as at the close of labor on Friday, the invitation was yet to urge to them.

He said that a lot of of the chief members weren't staying in Abuja, adding, “the earliest we could meet is Tuesday.”

How, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Ngige told Sunday Vanguard that the federal delegations were ready on Saturday for the meeting.

Those expected at the meeting from the govt side are Senator Ngige who is that the Conciliator-General of the Federation, the Minister of Finance and National Planning, the Director-General, Budget Office, the Group director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, the Minister of Power, the Minister of State for Petroleum, the Governor of financial institution of Nigeria and therefore the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC.