By Cross Udo, Abuja
The meeting between the Federal Government and the organised labour over the issue of subsidy removal ended without any resolution.
The meeting called on the instance of the Federal Government at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, was to find a solution to the brewing crisis due to the effect of the subsidy removal and the hike in petroleum pump prices.
The government through the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) announced a pricing template.
The NNPCL adjusted the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) across its retail outlets, in line with the current market realities.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the adjustment by NNPCL was triggered by the pronouncement of President Bola Tinubu that fuel subsidy has ended with the coming of his administration.
NAN correspondent, who monitored NNPC Ltd retail outlets in Abuja reports that the price moved from N194 per litre to N537 per litre.
*NLC, TUC tell govt to revert to status quo
Speaking to journalists after the meeting, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, said, “As far as we are concerned there was no consensus.”
He said that the principle of negotiation was for the government and the NNPCL to revert to status, adding, “You don’t ask to negotiate under gunpoint.”
On the demands of organised labour, Ajaero said, “We should go back to status quo, negotiate, think of the alternatives and all the effects and how many of the effects this action will have on the people if it is an action that must take off.”
He said the subsidy provision has been made up to the end of June and rhetorically asked, “Why is it now? The last administration made it up to the end of June. Why can’t we respect the sanctity of even that law that provided that expenditure up to June?”
On the claim by the Federal Government that there is no money to continue with the subsidy, Ajaero flanked by the President of the Trade Union Congress, TUC, Festus Osifo said, “What is the purpose of governance, is it the duty of NLC to raise funds for the government, collect tax, to sell crude at the international market when the price of crude is going high and the government that is a major importer of crude product is telling you there is no money. Other countries that are in the same scenario are eating fat.”
Asked whether it is realistic to continue with the payment of subsidy the NLC President said, “Why do you keep on hampering on subsidy, what do you understand about subsidy, has anybody explained to you the meaning of subsidy, what did they say is subsidy?
“Is there any country even in the US there is a subsidy on the wheat product, is there any country that does not subsidise the living of people even if it is by providing public transportation, those are the issues we are looking at.
“If you are a major producer of crude and you refine or carry the crude abroad and refine and bring it, definitely there will be difference in the price and that is what they are paying.
“If your father established a refinery and that refinery dies in your hand and you are now refining abroad, you ask yourself some questions. We have refineries in Kaduna, Warri, and Port Harcourt, why are they not functioning that we have to go and refine abroad, the transportation money, refining cost at international price or rate and bring it back here and the same government pays the difference in cost of what it is here and what is international, that is what they are telling you about.”
He wondered why the government should claim that it has deregulated the product and at the same time is fixing the prices of the product.
Ajaero said in 2011 labour met with the government and agreed on some principles including the repair of the refineries to start operation latest by December last year but nothing was done.
The person who spoke on the side of the Federal Government, Dele Alake said, “We have been deliberating on finding very amicable solutions to the issue at hand, to the queue and all of that and the increase in pump price.
“We had a very robust engagement. We cross-fertilised ideas, ideas flew from all sides and there is one thing that is remarkable even from the Labour side, and that is Nigeria. We are all looking at the peace, progress, and stability of Nigeria. That is what is paramount.
“Of course, the NNPCL CEO is here, Mr Melee Kyari, we cannot go into details now because the talks are still ongoing. We cannot finish everything in one setting, so we have adjourned now, we are continuing the talks at a later date very shortly.
“But the point is that the talks are ongoing and it is always better for all sides to keep talking to arrive at a very amicable resolution that will be in the longer-term interest for all Nigerians. That is as much as we can say now.”
In an earlier statement, the NLC told President Tinubu to direct the NNPCL to withdraw what it described as a ‘vexatious pricing template” on petroleum products to allow free flow of discussion.
The NLC in a statement by its President said what the NNPCL did was an ambush that runs contrary to the spirit and principles of Social Dialogue which it said remained the best platform available for the resolution of all the issues arising out of the petroleum downstream sector.
The Labour movement said Nigerians would not accept any manipulations of any kind from any of the parties, especially from the representatives of the Government.
The statement titled, “That NNPC pricing template is vexatious and an ambush: The Dialogue is in danger”, said the template may not allow labour to continue if nothing is done to withdraw it so that the dialogue can continue unhindered.
NLC alleged that the indication was clear that the government was trying to scuttle the process.
The statement read, “We are worried that the Government through the NNPCL despite the ongoing meeting of stakeholders in the oil and gas sector to manage the unilateral, but unfortunate announcement by the President to withdraw subsidy on petroleum products, went ahead this morning to announce a new regime of prices under a new pricing template.
“This is an ambush and runs against the spirit and principles of social dialogue which remains the best platform available for the resolution of all the issues arising out of the petroleum Down-Stream Sector.
“The government cannot in one breathe be talking about deregulation and at the same time fixing the prices of petroleum products. This negates the spirit of allowing the operation of the free market unless the government has as usual usurped, captured, or become market forces.
“It is, therefore, unacceptable and we seriously condemn it. Good faith negotiation is key to reaching an agreement.
“What the government has done is like holding a gun to the head of Nigerian people and bringing undue pressure on the leaders thus undermining the dialogue.
“We call on the federal government to immediately instruct the NNPC to withdraw this vexatious Pricing template to allow free flow of discussions by the parties.
“Nigerians would not accept any manipulations of any kind from any of the parties, especially from the representatives of the government.
“Our commitment to this process is buoyed by the fact that all the parties would be committed to ensuring that it is carried out within the ambits of liberty without undue pressure.
“The release of that Template may not allow us to continue if nothing is done to withdraw it so that the dialogue can continue unhindered. The government is trying to scuttle the process.
“As it stands, the federal government has become fixated on their chosen course of action. Would this help this dialogue? It clearly will not. There must be flexibility to allow concessions and reasonable accommodation that will produce the best result for the Nigerian people. This is what we all seek at this time.”
