Federal Goverment, and then Organized Labour meets over fuel price hike.

The Federal Government yesterday engaged the Labour over the new petrol price regime.

The meeting was held at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), with representatives from both government and Labour in attendance.

It was learnt that the meeting discussed the consequential adjustment of the new minimum wage, and the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) initiative, among others.

Government representatives at the meeting were National Security Adviser (NSA) Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, Minister of Labour Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Wale Edun, Minister of Information Mohammed Idris, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil) Heineken Lokpobiri, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas) Ekperikpe Ekpo and representatives of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL).

Labour representatives included Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President Joe Ajaero, Deputy President Kabiru Ado Sani, General Secretary Emma Ugboaja, Deputy President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) Dr. Tommy Okon, Secretary General Nuhu Toro and President of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), also a Deputy President of the NLC.

Also present were Benjamin Anthony, Vice President of NLC, and Comrade Deborah Yusuf, Deputy Women leader of NLC.

NLC had decried the hike in the price of petrol, demanding a reversal and accusing the government of betrayal.

Idris, who addressed reporters after the meeting, described it as ‘normal engagement with labour to interact on national issues’.

He said the government does not believe there must be tension before an interaction.

“The government is always desirous of engaging with labour. This is one of such engagements.

“We’ll continue to interact with them. We don’t wait until there is tension about anything before we engage Labour,” he said.

His Budget and Economic Planning counterpart, Abubakar Bagudu, assured Nigerians that the country’s economy is on the path to recovery, despite current challenges.