On Friday, the top leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress abruptly left the meeting of the Presidential Steering Committee on subsidy palliatives at the presidential villa in Abuja.
The President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero, led his delegation to the Chief of Staff’s office for the scheduled meeting at 5pm but they soon departed from the villa.
Earlier in the week, the Steering Committee had met with a government delegation where both parties agreed to reconvene on Friday to receive updates from the three subcommittees tasked with addressing various demands.
The Steering Committee was established by the government to develop palliatives to alleviate the impact of fuel subsidy removal on workers.
However, the meeting could not proceed as some members stated that there was not enough present to form a quorum.
The labour union accused the federal government of using the meetings as a ruse to mislead Nigerians.
According to a source at the meeting, the Mass Transit, Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), and Cash transfer subcommittees were expected to brief the Steering Committee on measures to mitigate the effects of fuel subsidy removal on workers.
However, the labour leaders alleged that government officials, who are members of the subcommittees, were absent.
Speaking to Vanguard, a member of the Steering Committee from the labour group stated, “They are not prepared for the meeting. That’s the truth.” He maintained that the government representatives insisted on continuing the meeting despite the lack of quorum.
He emphasized, “They are taking us for granted and trying to deceive Nigerians.”
It was reported that the Chief of Staff, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, had initially waited for the labour delegation with other team members at the Conference Hall. He later had to attend to other official matters within the Villa while the government team awaited the arrival of the labour group.
It was discovered that the organised labour delegation from the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress was delayed at the State House entrance gate for clearance, as their names were not sent for processing, leading to the delay.
The failed meeting would have been the fourth in a series of meetings held since the implementation of the petroleum subsidy removal.