Leaders of organised labour comprising of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) and the federal government have refused to divulge any information concerning the crucial meeting held over the incessant hike in the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) also known as fuel, consequential adjustment in the new minimum wage amongst others.
The meeting which took place at the office of George Akume, secretary to the government of the federation (SGF), was expected to reverse the hike and also find lasting solutions to the incessant increases which keeps worsening the living conditions of Nigerians.
Labour unions have queried the petrol price hike, saying it goes against its agreement with the federal government during negotiations for a new minimum wage, adding that government was only worsening the living conditions of majority of Nigerians who were struggling to survive the harsh economy.
A source who spoke to our correspondent craving anonymity, noted that the labour unions were dismayed at the level of betrayal the President Bola Tinubu’s government has demonstrated thus far in the increases of petroleum products.
According to the source, the leaders had also placed on the table, practical solutions that could crash down the pump price of petroleum products if the federal government considers and adopt them.
Officials at the meeting were the minister of state for labour and employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha; minister of finance, Wale Edun; minister of information, Mohammed Idris; and the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu.
As at press time, labour leaders are holding an emergency meeting to further discuss and take critical decisions from the earlier meeting with government.
Recall that while Nigerians were still struggling to adapt to an earlier increase of fuel pump price, last Wednesday, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited once again increased the price of petrol across its retail outlets.
The product is now being sold between N998 and N1,003 per litre, a development that has led to an increase in transport fares across the country.
